5* .«-•. "^C rr* A , J"%. i« .-s "oV 5-°-n^, .^'\ ■^0' 'oK ' o'> "*. ' -^^0^ HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WAR OF 1812^ THK COMMENCEMENT, UNTIL ! THE FINAL TERMINATION THEREOF, it d ON THE >iEMORABLE EIGHTH OF JANUARY, 1815> i ) AT I NEW ORLEANS. ; EMBELLISHED JVIfH A ST'JilKJSG LJKENESSOF CENERJL PJKS^ , AND SIX OfHER ENGRAVINGS, ', THIRD EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY WM. m'cARTY. T^RINTED BY >i'cARTY & DAVIS, S; W. CORNER OF ^IFTH AND CHERRY STREETS. 1817, TjlSTUld OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO WIT: ****** ^^ ^"^ Rememberrh^ that on the sixth day of * ^ * May, in the fortieth year of the Indefiendence of * ' '% the United States of America.^ A, D. 1816, WiL- ****** £^^3j M'^CARfr^of the said district, hath deposited VI this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as /irojirietor, in the words fo II oiuing, to wit : « History of the American War, of eighteen hundred mid. " twelve, from the commencement until the final termination " thereof, on the memorable eighth of January, 1815, at J^^^. " Orleans: embellished with a striking likeness of generat Pi,y^^ *' and six other engravings^* In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States entituled " An act for the encouragement of learning, by secur- ing the co/iies of mafis, charts, and books to the authors and pr^- jirietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned^* And also to the act entitled,''' An act supplementary to a?iact, entitled, « An act for the encouragement of learning, by secur- ing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and pro- prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned,'* and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, en- i(ravin((, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania. a' y -' <-• If , II ^ ■- CONTENTS. V, ■'t: PAGE. Introduction, ^J Expedition of general Hull, a-nd inarch through the In- dian Country, 10 Invasion of Canada, and reconnoitering on the Thames, 11 Attack on the British advanced posts and Fall of Michil- limackinack, 12 Policy of Britain and America towards the Indians, 13 Skirmishing, and American supplies intercepted, - ±4* Battle of Maguago, ------ ij Canada evacuated, Detroit summoned, and surrender of the army, 16 Massacre at Chicago, 18 Character of the American navy, - - - - 19 Cruize of the squadron under commodore Rodgers, and pursuit of the Belvidera, - - - - - 21 Escape of the Constitution, 23 Capture of the Guerriere, 21 Cruize of the Essex, ------ 25 Rodgers' second cruize, and tlie Argus, - - - 27 Capture of the Macedonian, 27 Capture of the Frolic and Wasp, - - - - 2S Affairs on the lakes, capture ol the Caledonia and Detroit, 32 Battle of Queenstown, - - - - - - 33 Smyth's abortive expedition, - - - - - 31 Military ardour of the Western States, and fort Wayne relieved, - - - 36 Indian expeditions, 36 March through the wilderness to Foit Defiance, - 57 Failure of Tupper's projected expedition, - - 40 Expedition to the rapids of Miami, - - - 40 Second expedition thither, and seige of Fort Harrison, 42 Relief of that post, and expedition against the Peoria towns, --------44 Destruction of the Indian towns on the Wabash, - 46 Destruction of the Indian towns on the Mississin^wa, 47 Expedition against the Florida Indians, - - - 47 *^ CONTENT^. The Bonne Citoyenne challenged, ^ . - 5 i Capture and destruction of the Java, - - - 51 Capture and destruction of the Peacock, - - 53 Cruize of the Chesapeake, and her capture by the Shannon, 56 Capture of the Argus, - - . - 62 Capture of the Boxer, - - . . 63 Cruize of the President and Congress, - - d-i Cruize of the Essex, - - - > G7 American Privateers— The Rolla and the Comet, - 69 The General Armstrong and the Decatur, - - 71 Battle near the river Raisin, - - -72 Battle of Frenchtown, - . - - 74 Massacre of the prisoners, - - , - 75 Construction of and siege of Fort Meigs, - - 76 Skirmishing on the St. Lawrence, - - _ 77 Capture of Ogdensburg and of York, . - 78 (Capture of Fort George, - - . - 80 Generals Chandler and Winder made prisoners, - 81 Capture of Bcerstler's detachment, - - - S3 Attack on Sackett*s Harbour, - - - 83 Sodus burnt, and second attempt on Sackett's Harbour, 83 Attack on Black Rock, - - - - 85 Seige of Lower Sandusky, - - - - 86 Norfolk threatened by the British squadron and bombard- ment of Lewistown, - - - - 88 Capture of the Dolphin, &c. and action between the Fox and Adeline, - - _ . . 90 Annapolis and Baltiniore threatened, - - 9t Burning of the villages of Havre de Grace, &c. - 91 Attack on Craney Island, - - - - 91 Outrages at Hampton, - - . - 92 Decatur's squadron driven into New London, , - 9^ Attempt to blow up the Ramilies, - - - 94 Explosion of a torpedo, - - - - .. 94" Capture of the British squadron on lake Erie, - 95 Evacuation of Maiden aud Detroit, - - - loo Capture of the British army, - - - lOi Moderation of the conquerers, - - - 103 Expedition to- the Peoria lake, - - - 105 Inactivity of the army at Fort George, - - 106 Chauncey's cruises on lake Ontario, - - - 106 Engagement with the Royal George under Kingston bat- teries, - - - . - . 107 Engagement with Yeo's squadron, - - - io9 Veo chasid round the lake, - - ~ 110 CONTENTS. I'hauncey's second engagement with Yeo, - - 111 Capture of the British transports, . - - 113 Movements on lake Champlain, - - - 114 General Hampton invades Canada, - - 115 Wilkinson moves down the St. Lawrenee, - - 116 Battle of Williamsburgh, - - - - 117 Hampton declines a junction, . - - 120 The army moves into winter quarters, - - 120 Evacuation of Fort George, - - - 121 Fort Niagara taken, and the Niagara frontier laid waste, ±22 Events on the vSouthern frontier, and seizure of Mobile, 123 War with the Creek Indians, - - - 121? Capture of Fort Minis, - - - - 125 Battle of Tallushatches, - - - - 126 Battle of Talledega, . . - - 127 Destruction of the Hillibee towns, - - 128 Battle of Autossee, - - - - 129 Expedition to the Tallapoosie river, - - 131 Retaliation, ----- 131 Correspondence on the emplovmeut of the Indians, - 133 Remarks on the armj and navy, - - - 137 Breaking up of the cantonments at French mills, and affair at La Cole mill, - - - - 139 General Wilkinson suspended, , - - 140 March of Brown's army to the Niagara, - - 140 Holmes' expedition on the Thames, - - 140 Situation of affairs on lake Ontario, - - 143 Attack on the towns on the American margin of the lake, 143 Capture of a British detachment at Sandy bay, - 145 Burning of Long Point, _ - - - 147 Capture of Fort Erie, and Battle of Chippewa plains, 148 Battle of Bridgevvater, - - - - 151 Attack upon Buffalo, - - - - 156 Siege of Fort Erie, - - - - 157 General assault of the works, , - - 158 Capture of two schooners on lake Erie, - - 160 Critical situation of the garrison in Fort Erie, - 160 Brilliant sortie, - - - - - 161 The British raise the siege, - - - 162 Expedition under general Bissell, - - - 162 M'Arthur's expedition towards Burlington Heights, 163 Evacuation of Canada, - - - - 163 British depredations in the Chesapeake, - - 165 Movements of Barney's flotilla, - - - 165 Measures for the defence of Baltimore and Washington, 167 VI CONTENTS. Arrival of the expedition under general Ross, - - 168 Lauding and movements of the British army, - - 168 Battle of Bladensburg, 17q Capture of Washington, and destruction of i\ie public buildings, I74 Retreat of the British, 176 Fort Warburton blown up, 177 Alexandria plundered, 177 Preparations for cutting off the retreat of the plunderers, 178 Bombardment of the batteries under commodores Porter and Perry, 179 Commodore Rodgers* fire ships, - . - . 179 Defeat and death of sir Peter Parker, - - - 1S2 Dismissal of the secretary of war, - - - - 183 Conduct of the British at Washington and Alexandria, 183 Burning of Newark and the Moravian towns, - - 184< Effects resulting from the burning of Washington, in Eu- rope, and in the United States, - - - - 189 Attack upon Baltiniore, 192 Bombardment of Fort M'llenry, - - - - 194 Retreat of the British, - 193 Proclamation of sir George Prevost, - - - 196 Repulse of the British at Otter Creek, - - - 197 Expedition against Plattsburg, - - - - 197 Capture of the British squadron on lake Champlain, - 200 Attack on the American works near Plattsburg, - 201 Retreat of Prevost, - 202 Operations in New England, 203 Bombardment of Stonington, 203 Proclamation of neutrality towards Eastport, - - 204- Capture of that place, 205 Capture of Castine, and destruction of the Adams frigate, 206 Surrender of the country between the Penobscot and Pas- samaquoddy bay, 208 Expedition against Michillimackinac, . - - 208 Destruction of the establishment at St. Mary's, - 209 Attack on Michillimackinac, - - - - - 210 Destruction of the establishment at Nautauwasaga, - 211 Capture of the American blockading force on lake Huron, 212 State affairs in the Creek Territory, - - - 212 Battle of Ecconachaca, 213 Expedition of general Jackson, . . - . 214 Attack Oil , general Floyd's camp, - - - - 218 Battle of tiie Horse Shoe, 219 Treaty of Peace with the Creeks, .... - 232 CONTENTS. Vll Repulse of the British at Maiile, - - . 22s Procia-inatioii of colonel Nichols, - 1 ^ , 224< Destructioa of the settlement at Barrataria. - - 225 Capture of Pensacoia, 326 Capture of the An eiican gun-boats on lake Borgne, 227 Military preparations at New Orleans, - . - 22S Landing of the British below the town, - - - 228 Battle of the 23(1 of December, - - - - 229 Description of the country around New Orleans, - 230 Operations of the British previous to the 8th of January, 230 Battle of New Orleans, - - - - - 231 Bombardment of Fort St. Philip, - - - - 234 Operations on the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, 234? Cruize of the Essex, 235 Captain Porter's reception at Valparaiso, - - 237 Destruction of the British commerce in the Pacific, - 237 The Happah war, ...... 233 Typee war, -----.- 239 Madison's Island, 240 Capture of the Essex, - - - - - - 240 Sequel of the cruize, ^ - . - - . 246 Result of the campaign ob the Ocean, - - - 247 Destruction of the General Araistrong, ... 248 l*eace between America and Great Britain, - - 250 Its reception in the two countries, - - - 250 Lesions taught by the w ar, . . . ^ > 252 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. Plate I. Likeness of general Pike to face the title page. II. Constitution and Guerriere, to face page - 24f III. United States and Macedonian, to face page 27 IV. Wasp and Frolic, to face page - - - 28 V. Perry's victory, to face page - - - 95 VI.' Battle of North Point, to face page - - 192 VII. Battle of New Orleans, to face page . - - 381 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WAR DURING the last thirty years the United States has bcei^ increasing' in population and wealth in a ratio unparalleled in history. Within that period, its numbers have been more than doubled, while its forests have been rapidly changing into cul- tivated fields, and flourishing towns and villages rising, as if by magic, in the midst of the wilderness. These blessings, however, have not been entirely unalloyed. The rapid increase of wealth had introduced luxury, with its accompanying evils, and had, especially in the larger cities, considerably sullied our republican simplicity of manners. Our extensive commerce, too, had embroiled us with several of the European powers, and finally involved us in war; while the thirst for speculation which it had excited in almost eveiy class, has undoubtedly had a demoralizing tendency, though not perhaps in the degree attributed to it by some politicians, who have placed solely to that account the want of public spirit and nationality, which has been charged to this country. The late war, whatever other evils it may have introduced, has certainly checked this evil. It has raised the character of the nation in the eyes of foreign powers, and erected an altar of national glory on which all local prejudices have been sacrificed, and politicians of every party have joined liand in hand to celebrate the triumphs of our country. A formal declaration of war against Great Britain, was pass- ed by congress on the 18th of June, 1812, which was proclaim- ed by the president on the following day. At this time the whole naval force of the United States amounted only to seven frigates, and a few sloops of war and other smaller vessels. The land forces were next to nothing. An army of 35,000 men, it is true, were authorized by congress, and the president was empowered to call out 100,000 militia; but the latter spe- cies of force, though strong in defensive operation, in offensive is perhaps Avorse than nothing, and in a free country like this, wh'^re a comfortable subsistence is so readily procured, the B HISTORY OF THE WAK. embodyii)g of a large regular force is far from being the work of a clay. Besides, some time is necessary to change the hab- tts of men from civil to military; men brought up to ease and indolence cannot at once execute the duties and meet the pe- rils of war. Considerable difficulties were experienced like- wise in finding officers fitted for command. Many of the re- volutionary characters were dead, and those who survived were almost too old for active service. In this state of things, can it be a subject of wonder that the raw forces of the United States, headed by officers who had never seen service, and ac- companied by rash militia, without subordination, should ex- perience some disasters in the commencement of their career? These disasters, however, have thrown no disgrace on the American name. On the contrary, the conduct of the Ame- rican armies has reflected honour on their country, and all their reverses have been occasioned either by the rashness of un- disciplined bravery, qr by the misconduct or inexperience of their leaders. From the disadvantages under which the army laboured, the Uttle navy of America was entirely free. The previous em- barrassments of commerce rendered it easy for our naval offi- cers to supply themselves with a sufficient number of seamen, and with men too who had all their lives been engaged in si- milar pursuits, and under the most rigorous discipline; for we apprehend that but little difference exists as to discipline and general habits between a merchantman and a ship of war. At the time of the declaration of war, general Hull, gover- nor of the territory of Michigan, was on his march through the Indian country in the state of Ohio, with an army of about JOOO men, destined for Detroit. In the preceding month of April the governor of Ohio had been ordered by the president to call out 1200 militia. This requisition was principally fill- ed up by volunteers who rendezvoused at Dayton on the 29tii oi April, and were shortly after placed under the command of Qjeneral Hull. In the beginning of June the detachment ad- vanced to Urbanna, where, on the tenth, they were joined by the 4th regiment of United States infantry. The following day they commenced their march through the wilderness. From Urbanna to the rapids of the Miami of the Lakes, the country belongs to the Indians, and is entirely destitute of roads. From the rapids to Detroit, along Lake Erie and De- troit river, are various settlements, principally of French Ca> .:!adian5. By the treaty of Greenville, concluded by general V'ayne wiih the Indians in 1795, a number of tracts, generally ': miles square, were ceded to the United States, which fr/rm HISTORY OF -THE WAR. ^^ chains of posts joining the lakes with the Ohio by the course of the navigable rivers and the portages connecting them. By the treaty a free passage both by land and water was to be al- lowed to the people of the United States, along these chains of posts. Forts or block-houses have been erected and garri- soned in most of these ceded tracts since the declaration ot war, but at the time that the country was traversed by general Hull's detachment, no civilized being was to be seen between Urbanna and the Rapids, a distance of at least 120 miles. Towards the end of June the army arrived at the Rapidsj where a beautiful and romantic country suddenly opened to their view, enlivened by the signs of cultivation, and by the dwellings of their countrymen. Here a beam of joy animated every countenance, and gave fresh energy and fortitude to those who had undergone with difficulty the fatigues of a march at once gloomy and oppressive. On men who had just emerged from a dreary wilderness, unincumbered by a single hut reared by the hand of civilization, occupied by nought but Indians and beasts of prey, the change of scenery had a won- derful effect. After stopping here one day for refreshment, the army re- commenced their march, having previously loaded a suiaU schooner with the hospital stores and officers' baggage, which was dispatched to Detroit by water, under a guard of a lieuten- ant and thirty men. Before they reached Detroit the army ' were informed of the capture of the schooner, and of the de- claration of war. On the morning of the 5th of July, they ar- rived at Spring Wells, opposite Sandwich, within a few miles of Detroit, where they encamped. As general Hull had received, before his taking command of the army, discretionary powers to act offensively in case of war, the invasion of Canada was now determined on, and the utmost diligence was used in preparation for that event. The arms of the troops were repaired, a part of the ordnance found in the fort at Detroit was mounted, and every exertion was used by the officers to impress on the minds of the soldiery the necessity of strict discipline and obedience to orders. On the 12th of July the army crossed into Canada, with the exception of a small part of one company of militia, that re- fused to pass the river. They encamped at Sandwich, a little below Detroit, where a proclamation was issued by general Hull. The inhabitants fled in the utmost consternation on the approach of the army, but on receiving the proclamation, ma- ny of them returned to their homes. On the 14th a company of militia and a rifle corps, und' 12 HISTORY OF THE WAR. colonel M' Arthur were detached to reconnoitre the country. They penetrated to M'Gregor's mills, upon the the river La Tranche, or Thames, a short distance from the field of battle where the British army was captured fifteen months after- wards by general Harrison. On the 17th, they returned to camp, having collected a great quantity of provisions, and a number of blankets, besides a considerable quantity of ammu- nition and other military stores. That part of Upper Canada traversed by the detachment is described by one of the volunteers that composed it as ex- tremely fertile and beautiful. The fields of wheat and Indian corn were remarkably fine; but as every male capable of bear- ing arms had been drafted for the defence of the province^ vast quantities of the wheat remained ungathered. On the 16th, another reconnoitering party of 280 men, un- der colonel Cass, was dispatched in an opposite direction, towards Fort Maiden, where the British and Indians had con- centrated their forces. Maiden, or Amherstburgh, is situated near the junction of Detroit river with lake Erie, about thirteen miles south from the camp of general Hull at Sandwich. The road lies along the river, and crosses two creeks, and the river Aux Canards, the latter about four miles from Maiden. Cass's detachment found the British advanced posts in possession of abridge over the Aux Canards. After examining their position, the colonel posted a company of riflemen near the bridge, and forded the river about five miles above with the remainder of his force with the intention of surprising the British post. For that pur- pose the riflemen were instructed to commence firing, in or- der to^divcrt the attention of the enemy, as soon as they should perceive tiieir companions on the opposite side of the river. Unfortunately, however, being entirely destitute of guides, the detachment marched too near the bank of the river, and found their progress checked by a creek, which obliged them to make a circuit of two or three miles. This gave tlie enemy time to make their arrangements, and prepare for their de- fence. On being attacked, however, they retreated to Mai- den, and left the bridge in possession of the detachment; but as colonel Cass had received no orders to keep possession of any post, but had been sent merely to reconnoitre, this bridge, .which formed the principal obstruction between the American camp and Maiden, was abandoned, and the detachment return- ed to camp. Meanwhile the main body of the Americans remained inac- ve at Sandwich. Not a single cannon or mortar was on HISTORY OF THE WA^^- -• wheels suitable for the attack of Maiden; nor was it until the 7th of August that two 24 pounders and three howilzcrs were prepared. Previous to that day, however, a great change had taken place in the prospects of the Americans. The news of the surprise and capture of the island and fort of Michilli- mackinac* by a combined force of British and Indians, which took place on the 17th of July, and reached the army on the 28th. The surrender of this post is stated by general Hull to have " opened the northern hive of Indians,'* and to have induced those who had hitherto been friendly to pass over to the British. The policy observed by the British and American govern- ments towards the Indians was of a diametrically opposite com- plexion. The American government did every thing in its power to civilize those unfortunate tribes who live within their limits, and to introduce among them the practice of agri- culture and the mechanic arts, with a view to wean them from the hunter state, a state which is becoming daily more pre- carious and unprofitable from the increase of the population of the country, and which renders them extremely dangerous neighbours. The policy of the British, on the contrary, is to keep them in their hunter state, by which they not only sup- ply a lucrative branch of trade, but furnish a powerful weapon in war. It is not to be wondered at, then, that the Indians, who delight in warfare, and ail of whose habits are averse from the pursuits of civilized life, should cling to the British, and should view the Americans, from their rapid increase of population and strength, with jealousy and dislike. From this cause Canada has ever been a thorn in the side of the United States. While in possession of the French, by whom it was originally settled, the most powerful efforts were made by the British and provincial troops to gain possession of the country. In the French v/ar of i756, after three wholly disastrous campaigns, and one of mingled disaster and success, the Ame- ricans, assisted by powerful British aid, at last succeeded in * MichUlimackinac^ or Makina^ is a small islatid situated m the entrance of the strait betivetn lakes Huron and Michigan, The fort is the most northern milziary fiost in the United States. Mere a great fair a^ the frigates United States and Congress, and the brig Argus, received or- ders to rendezvous off Sandy Hook. On their arrival there on the 2 1st of June, they were joined by the brig Hornet and the President, from New York, and the same day commodore Rodgers who commanded the squadron, having received offi- cial intelligence of the declaration of war, they put to sea iii search of a British convoy which had sailed from Jamaica in the preceding month. The following night information was received of the convoy from an American brig, which had passed them four days before, and the squadron crowded all sail in pursuit. Next morning, however, their course was altered by the ap- pearance of the British frigate Belvidera, to which they im- mediately gave chase. The pursuit continued from six in the morning until half past four in the afternoon, when the commo- dore's ship the President, having got within gun shot, com- menced a fire with the bow chase guns, at the spars and rig- ging of the Belvidera, in hopes of crippling the one or the other so far as to enable them to get along side. The Belvi- dera returned the fire of the President with her stern guns, and the firing was kept up without intermission for about ten minutes, when one of the President's chase guns burst, by which unfortunate accident sixteen m.enwere killed and woun- ded; among the wounded was commodore Rodgers, who had his leg fractured. By the bursting of the gun, and the explo- sion of the passing box, from which it was served wdth pow- der, both the main and forecastle decks were so much shat- tered as to prevent the use of a chase gun on that side for some time. Orders were therefore given to veer the ship and a broadside was fired in the hope of disabling the spars of the enemy. This, however, did not succeed; but considerable damage was done to the rigging and the stern. The utmost exertion was now used on board the President, by wetting the changed their conduct towards Endicot, and invited hi7n to mess in the gun room^ where his frank^ manhj behaviour quickly se- cured him in their highest respect. In speaking offirivateers he remarked to the British officers^ that they were under the same regulations as national vessels^ and that Jimerican privateering naturally differed from that of other nations^^ as it was generally considered in the United States as a national mode of carrying on the war, and hastetiing peace, btj operating on the enemy ir^ her most vulnerable poifit. C HISTOUY OF THE WAR. sails, Sec. to ^uin ground of her opponent, but without success A constant iiiing was kept up on both sides, the President at times giviiig. broadsides, until about seven o'clock, when the Belvidcra, having cut away her anchors, started a number of Aviitcr casks, and thrown overboard her boats and every thing that could be spared, began to gain ground, and to get out of the reach of the President's shot. The chase, however, was continued with all the sail our squadron could set, until about })alf past eleven, when it was given up as hopeless. Cofisider- able injury was done to both vessels in this action. One of the first shots fired by the President killed one man and wound- ed six; the captain was severely wounded in the thigh by the breaking of the breeching of a carronade. On board the Pre- sident there were three killed and nineteen wounded, the grea- ter part by the bursting of the gun. The squadron now resumed their course in pursuit of the convoy from Jamaica, but did not receive further intelligence of it until the 29th of June, when an American schooner was spoken on the western edge of the banks of Newfoundland, that had passed them two days before. On the 1st of July they fell in with quantities of cocoa-nut shells, orange peels, &c. which indicated that the convoy were not far distant. On the 9th they captured the British privateer Dolphin, which had passed the convoy the preceding evening. The pursuit Jwas continued, but without success, until the 13th, the squadron being then within eighteen or twenty hours sail of the British channel. From this they steered for the island of Madeira, and thence passing the Azores stood for Newfoundland, and from the lat- "ier place by the way of cape Sable to Boston, where they ar- rived on the 31st of August. During a great part of this cruize the weather was such as to obscure every distant object: for several days the fog was so thick as to prevent the vessels of the squadron from seeing each other, even at cable's length asunder; in consequence of which although they chased every vessel they saw, and brought to every thing they chased, with the exception of four vessels, •;]iey made only seven captures and one recapture. The r ruize, however, was not barren of benefit to the country, as the knowledge of the squadron's being at sea obliged the ene- my to concentrate a considerable portion of his most active force, and thereby prevented his capturing a large amount of American property that would otherwise have fallen a sacri- fice. The vessels that escaped were, the Belvidera, another British frigate, by night, and two American privateers, HISTORY OF THE WAR. -o The Constitution frigate^ under the command of captain Hull, had received orders to join the squadron, and for that pur- pose sailed from Annapolis on the 5th of July. On the I7t'i, off Eg^g Harbour, four ships, apparently of war, were disco- vered from the mast-head to the northward, and in shore of the Constitution, and, in the belief that it was the Anurican seiuad- ron waiting her arrival, all sailvvas made in chase of them. At four in the afternoon another ship was seen from the mast- head, to the north-east, standing for the Constitution with all sail set, the wind at this time being very light, which course she continued till sun-set, but was still too far off to distinguish signals. At ten in the evening, being then within six or eight miles of the strange sail, the private signal was made by the Constitution, and kept up nearly an hour; it not being answer- ed, it was concluded that she and the ships in shore were ene- my's vessels. Captain Hull immediately laid his vessel in the same course with the others, having determined to lie off till day-light to see what they were. Next morning, about day-light, two frigates were seen from the Constitution, under her lee, one frigate four or five miles, and a line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig, and a schooner ten or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, and coming up fast, they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly calm wliere the Constitution was. After sunrise, finding there was but little chance for escape, being then v/ithin five miles of three lieavy frigates, the Constitution was cleared for action, and two guns were run out at the cabin windows, and two at the ports on the quarter deck. At eight, four of the ships were i early within gun-shot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead tow- ing, with all their oars and sweeps out. In this perilous situation, a new expedient vras determined on, which was the liappy means of saving the vessel. Being in only twenty- four fathoms water, boats were sent out ahead v/ith anchors, and the ship warped up to them, by which they soon began to get ahead of the enemy. They, however, adopt- ed the same plan, and all the boats fiom the furthermost ships were sent to assist those nearc t. For two days and nights were they chased by the squadron, sometimes v/ith light winds, at others warping, and towing in a calm, seldom much beyond gun-shot distance. On the morning of the 20th only three of the squadron could be seen from the mast-head, the nearest about 12 miles distant directly astern. Having now a light breeze, all hands were employed in wetting the sails from the royals down, and the enemy were soon left far behind. The Constitution, not being able to find the Un;ted States 24 HISTORY OF THF- WAR. squadron, now bore away for Boston, where she shortly aitc; arrived. On the 2d of September the Constitution again put to sea, and on the 1 9th a vessel was discovered and chased, which at half-past 3 P. M. was made out to be a frigate. The ship was immediately cleared for action, and the chase, which proved to be the Guerriere, backed her main top-sail, waiting for her to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready she bore down with the intention of immediately coming to close action; but on approaching within gun-shot, the Guerriere gave a broadside, and filled away and wore, giving a broadside on the other tack, but without effect, her shot falling short. Both vessels continued to manoeuvre for three quarters of an hour, the Guerriere for the purpose of gaining a raking position, the Constitution for the purpose of closing and avoiding bein^ raked. At last they dosed and kept up a heavy fire for six- teen minutes, when the mizen-mast of the Guerriere fell over- board, and brought the ship up in the wind, which enabled the Constitution to take a raking position, and to sweep her ene- my's deck by her grape-shot and musquetry. The fire was kept up with equal warmth for fifteen minutes longer, when, by the falling of the Guerriere's main and fore-mast, she became an uninanageable wreck. On seeing this tlse Constitution cased firing, but shortly after, perceiving the colours still fly- iig, she took a raking position within pistol shot, when they were immediately hauled lilSlOK^ 01" 1 HK WAR. Stance, and a heavy swell which prevailed, is ascribed the great length of the action. In this contest, the superiority oi the American gunnery was strikingly obvious. On board the Macedonian there were 36 killed and 68 wounded; she also lost her mizen mast, fore and main-top-masts, and main yard^ and was much cut up in her hull. On board the United States there were only five killed and seven wounded; the damage sustained by the ship was not so much as to render her return to port necessary. The United States arrived off New London with her prize on the 4th of December, and thence proceeded through the sound for New York. An equal ilcgrce of liberality was displayed by commodore Decatur, as on a former occasion by captain Hull. All the pro- perty of the officers and men on board the Macedonian was given up; that claimed by captain Garden included a band of music arid several casks of wine, which were valued at gSOO, and paid for by the commodore. While on this subject, we cannot forbear to mention an in- stance of generosity that occurred on this occasion among the common seamen. In the action with the Macedonian one of the carpenter's crew was killed, and left three children at the mercy of the world and of a worthless mother, who had aban- doned them. On the arrival of the two frigates at New York, their grandfather went on board the United States to claim the property and wages of his son, when an enquiry into the cir- cumstances of the family took place, and a plan was agreed up-v on by the seamen for the relief of the orphans, by which §800 were instantly collected for their maintenance and education, to be placed in the hands of suitable trustees for the purpose. But of all the victories which have been achieved by single vessels, perhaps the most brilliant is that which it has now be- come our most pleasing task to record. At the time of the declaration of war, the Wasp sloop of war commanded by captain Jacob Jones, was on her passage from Europe, whither she had carried despatches to our ministers in England and France. She arrived in the Delaware a few weeks after that event, and sailed again on a cruize on the 13th of October. On the 1 6th she experienced a heavy gale, in which she lost her jib- boom and two men. On the evening of the following day, about eleven o'clock, in a clear moon-light evening, being then in the track of vessels passing from Bermuda to Halifax, she found herself near five strange sail, steering eastward. " As ^iome of them seemed to be ships of war, it was thought better n p-et farther from them. The W^asp, therefore, hauled he HJSTORY OF THE WAR. -^ wind, and having reached a few miles to windward, so as to es- cape or fight as the occasion might require followed the strange sail through the night. At day-break on Sunday morning, captain Jones found that they were six large merchant ships, under convoy of a sloop of war, which proved to be the Frolic, captain Whinyates, from Honduras to England with a convoy, strongly armed and manned, having all forty or fifty men, and two of them mounting sixteen guns each. He determined^ however to attack them, and, as there was a heavy swell of the sea, and the weather boisterous, got down his top-gallant yards, close reefed the top-sails, and prepared for action. About 11 o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish colours; and the Wasp im- mediately displayed the American ensign and pendant. At 32 minutes past 1 1, the Wasp came down to windward on her lar- board side, within about sixty yards, and hailed. The enemy hauled down the Spanish colours, hoisted the British ensign, and opened a fire of cannon and musquetry — this the Wasp in- stantly returned; and coming near to the enemy, the action be- came close aiid without intermission. In four or five minutes the main-top-mast of the Wasp was shot away, atid falling down with the main-top-saii yard across the larboard fore and fore- top-sail braces, rendered her head yards m^manageable during the rest of the action. In two or three minutes more her gaft and mizen-top- gallant-mast were shot away. Still she continued a close and constant fire. The sea was so rough that the muz- zles of the Wasp,s guns were frequently in the water. The Americans, therefore, fired as the ship's side was going down, so that their shot went either on the enemy's deck or below it, v/hile the English fired as the vessel rose, and thus her balls chiefly touched the rigging, or were thrown away. The Wasp now shot ahead of the Frolic, raking her, and then resumed her position on her larboard bow. Her fire was now obviously at- tended with such success, and that of the Frolic so slackened, that captain Jones did not wish to board her, lest the rough- ness of the sea might endanger both vessels; but, in the course of a few minutes more, every brace of the Wasp was shot away, and her rigging so much torn to pieces, that he was afraid that his masts, being unsupported, would go by the board, and the frolic be able to escape. He thought, there- fore, the best chance of securing her was to board, and decide the contest at once. With this view he wore ship, and run- ning down upon the enemy, the vessels struck each other; the Wasp's side rubbing along the Frolic's bow, so that her jib- boom came in between the main and mizen rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of captain Jones and the first 30 HISTORY or THE WAK. lieutenant, Mr Biddle, who were, at that moment, standings together near the capstan. The Frolic lay so fair for raking that they decided not to board until they had given a closing broadside. Whilst they were loading for this, so near were the two vessels, that the rammers of the Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's sides, and two of her guns went through the bow ports of the Frolic, and swept the whole length of her deck. At this moment Jack Lang,* a seaman of the Wasp, a gallant fellow, who had been once impressed by a British man of war, jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was springing on board the Frolic; captain Jones wishing to fire again before boarding, called him down; but his impetuosity could not be restrained, and he was already on the bowsprit of the Frolic; when, seeing the ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp*s crew, lieutenant Biddle mounted on the hammock cloth to board. At this signal the crew followed, but lieutenant Biddle's feet got entangled in the rigging of the enemy's bowsprit, and mid- shipman Baker, in his ardour to get on board, laying hold of his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's deck. He sprang up, and as the next swell of the sea brought the Frolic nearer, he got on the bowsprit, where Lang and another seaman were already. He passed them on the forecastle, and was surpris- ed at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's deck, ex- cept the seamen at the wbeel and three officers. The deck was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the dea.d. As he went forward, the captain of the Frolic, with two other officers, who were standing on the quarter-deck, threw down their swords, and made an inclination of their bodies, de- noting that they had surrendered. At this moment the co- lours were still flying, as probably none of the seamen of the Frolic would dare to go into the rigging for fear of the mus- quetry of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle, therefore, jumped into the rigging himself, and hauled down the British ensign, and possession v/as taken of the Frolic, in forty-three minutes after the first fire. She was in a shocking condition; the birth- deck particularly was crowded with dead and wounded, and dying; there being but a small proportion of the Frolic's crew who had escaped. Captain Jones instantly sent on board his surgeon's mate, and all the blankets of the Frolic were brought * " John Lang is a native of JSTcw Brunsivick in JVew-Jer- Bey. We mention^ with great fileafiure^ the name of this brave American i>eama7i^ as a proof that confip.icnous valour is con- fined to no rank in the naval serv icr" HISTORY OF THE WAR. 51 from her slop-room for the comfort of the wounded. To in- crease this confusion both the Frolic's masts soon fell, cover- ing the dead and every thing on deck, and she lay a complete wreck. . " It now appeared that the Frolic mounted sixteen thirty-two pound carronades, four twelve pounders on the main-deck, and two twelve pound carronades. She was therefore, superior to the Wasp, by exactly four twelve pounders. The number of men on board as stated by the officers of the Frolic, was one hundred and ten — the number of seamen on board the Wasp was one hundred and two; but it could not be ascertain- ed whether in this one hundred and ten were included marines and officers, for the W^asp had, beside her one hundred and two men, officers and marines, making the whole crew about one hundred and thirty-five. What is however descisive, as to their comparative force, is, that the officers of the Frolic ac- knowledged that they had as many men as they knew what to do with, and in fact the Wasp could have spared fifteen men. There was, therefore, on the most favourable view, at least an equality of men; and an inequality of four guns. The disparity of loss was much greater. The exact number of killed and wounded on board the Frolic could not be precisely determin- ed; but from the observations of our officers, and the declai'a- tions of those of the Frolic, the number could not have been less than about thirty killed, including two officers, and of the wounded between forty and fifty; the captain and second lieu- tenant being of the number. The Wasp had five men killed and five slightly wounded. " All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, bury- ing the dead, and taking care of the wounded, when captain Jones sent orders to lieutenant Biddle to proceed to Charles- ton, or any southern port of the United States; and as there was a suspicious sail to windward, the Wasp would continue her cruize. The ships then parted. The suspicious sail was now coming down very fast. At first it was supposed that she was one of the convoy, who had all fled during the engage- ment, and the ship cleared for action; but the enemy as she advanced, proved to be a seventy-four — the Poictier«, captain Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frolic; passed her; over- took the Wasp, the disabled state of whose rigging prevented her from escaping; and then returned to the Frolic, who could, of course, make no resistance. The Wasp and Frolic, were carried into Bermuda. " It is not the least praise due to captain Jones, that his ac- count of this gallant action is perfectly modest and unostenta- O-i HlSXOUy Ol; THE WAR. tious. On his own share in the capture it is unnecessary to add any thing * The courage and exertions of the officers and crew, he observes, 'fully answered my expectations and wish- es. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid to every department during the engagement, and the animating example he afford- ed the crew by his intrepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers and Booth and Mr. Rapp, showed, by the incessant fire from their divi- sions, that they were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. Mr. Knight, and every other officer, acted with a courage and promptitude highly honourable. Lieutenant Claxton, who was confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to the en- gagement; and though too weak to be at his division remained upon deck, and showed by his composed manner of noting its incidents, that we had lost by his illness the service of a brave officer.' "* Meanwhile the utmost exertions were used on the lakes, in order to retrieve the disasters occasioned by the surrender of the force under general Hull. When that event took place, there was only one vessel of war owned by government on these waters, the brig Oneida, of 16 guns, on lake Ontario, commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. In the beginning of Oc- tober, commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour with a body of seamen, for the purpose of taking the command, and several schooners which had been employed as traders on the lake were instantly purchased and fitted out as vessels of war, and lieutenant Elliot was despatched to lake Erie to make ar- rangements there for building a naval force superior to that of the enemy. Elliot had not been many days at Black Rock, be- fore an opportunity offered for a display of the most determin- ed courage. On the morning of the 8th of October, two armed British vessels the brig Detroit, late the United States brig Adams, and the brig Caledonia, came down the lake from Maiden, and anchored under the guns of fort Erie, which is situated nearly opposite, and within a few miles of Black Rock, on the Nia- gara, near where it leaves the lake. Elliot instantly determin- ed to make an attack, and if possible get possession of them; and accordingly despatched an express to hasten the arrival of some sailors who were hourly expected. The sailors arrived about 12 o'clock, 50 in number. Though wearied with a march of 500 miles, they were only allowed till midnight to re- * Port Folio. HlblORY OF THE WAR. oS ircsh themselves, when, being reinforced by 5^ of the regular land forces, they pat otf from the mouth of Buifaloe creek in two boats, with lieutenant Elliot at their head. Having rowed into the lake above the vessels, they drifted down with the cur- rent till they were hailed by a centinel on board one of them, when they instantly sprang to their oars, and closing in upon the vessels, they jumped on board, drove the British below, and in ten minutes from their getting along side, the prisoners were all secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the vessels under way. Unfortunately tlie wind was not sufficiently strong to carry them up against a strong current into the lake, and both ran aground. The Caledonia, however, was beached un- der the protection of one of the batteries at Black Rock, but the Detroit lay near the head of an island in the middle of Nia- gara river, exposed to the batteries and flying artillery of the. enemy. The Americans returned their fire from the Detroit; but finding they could not bring the guns to bear with advan- tage, the prisoners were ail got on shore, and the brig was de- serted. In the course of the day several unsuccessful at- tempts were made by the British to board and destroy the mi- litary stores in the Detroit; but a considerable portion of them was secured by the Americans, after which she was set on fire and abandoned. The Caledonia belonged to the N. W. Company, and was loaded with peltry, which was estimated at 150,000 dollars. The Detroit was a government vessel, which was captured ^t Detroit. She was laden with military stores, and had on board sixty men and thirty American prisoners. She mounted six guns. The Caledonia mounted two guns, and she had 12 men. and 10 prisoners on board. The loss of the An)ericans in tliis gallant exploit was only two killed and four wounded. The force stationed on the Niagara fontier consisted of about 5000 men, of whom the majority were militia, under the com- mand of general Van Rensselaer. The ardour of the troop HISTORY OF THE WAR. tection of two brigs or two sloops of war. In this object, how- ever, he was disappointed by a line of battle ship and frigate making their appearance off the North Cape on the 19th of Ju- ly, just as he was in momentary expectation of meeting the convoy. On discovering the ships of war, Rodgers stood to- wards them to ascertain their character, when he hauled by the wind on the opposite tack to avoid them; but, owing to faint, variable winds, calms, and entire day-light, the sun in that lati- tude, at that season, appearing at midnight several degrees above the horizon, they were enabled to continue the chase up- wards of eighty hours; during which time, owing to the differ- ent changes of the wind, they were brought quite as near as was desirable. Disappointed in meeting with the convoy, Rodgers now steer- ed to gain the direction of the trade passing out of and into the Irish channel. In this position, between the 25th of July and 2d of August, he made three captures, when finding that the enemy had a superior force in that vicinity, he made a circuit round Ireland, and then steered for the banks of Newfoundland, near which he made two more captures, and by the latter one learned that a 74 and a frigate were on the eastern part of the bank only a few miles to the westward; he, however, did not fall in with them. On the 23d of September, to the southward of Nantucket shoals, Rodgers fell in with and captured in a very singular manner, the British schooner Highflyer, tender to admiral Warren. On approaching the schooner she hoisted a private signal, which was answered by the President, by a signal which fortunately proved to be the British one for that day, on seeing which the Highflyer immediately bore up, and was boarded by one of the officers of the President in a British uniform. By this stratagem commodore Rodgers gained possession of the British private signals, and admiral Warren's instructions by which was discovered the number of British squadrons on the Ameri- can coast, with their force and relative positions. He was thus enabled to avoid them, and on the 26th of September arrived safely at Newport, Rhode-Island. During the cruise, the President captured twelve British vessels, three of which were ransomed and dispatched to Eng- land as cartels, with 2 1 6 prisoners on parole. The British go- vernment, however, refused to sanction the terms of exchange entered into and signed by their officers, assigning as the rea- son, that " such transactions are inconsistent with the establish- ed understanding between the two countries.'* The President, on her arrival, had fifty-five prisoners on board. tilSTOIlY OF THE WAH. (37 Tiie Congress, after parting with the President, continued her cruise until the 12th of December, when she arrived at Portsmouth, N. H. She captured two British brigs often guns each, one of which was destroyed, and the other after being dismantled, was given up to the prisoners, who were discharg- ed on parole, and furnished with provisions, &c. sufficient to carry them to^the West Indies. She likewise captured a Bri- tish ship laden with wine and potatoes, which was destroyed after the greater part of her cargo was taken out. After parting with the President, the Congress ran to the southward; and crossing the equator, put into Seara, on the Brazil coast. Aiter watering, she beat against a strong wind and current, up to Fernando de Noronha, where she again wa- tered; and then proceeded to the eastward, in hopes to fall in tvith some Indiamen. She cruised as far as 18° W. from 6*^ S. to 6° N. under easy sail, made the island of St. Pauls; but until her return to Fernando de Noronha, which was nearly three months, never saw a vessel. She then returned to Seara, where she took in a quantity of cassada, jerked beef, &c. and ran under two reefed topsails to latitude 44° N., passing near Halifax, where she captured a brig, who informed them of Bos- f >n being blockaded by a superior force. She accordingly made for Portsmouth, where she arrived, with her crew, 410 men, in perfect health, having lost but four on the cruise. When the men commenced on the jerked beef and cassada, it did not agree with them, and about fifty were sick — ^but they soon re- covered. Tiie Congress was in perfect order and wanted no repairs. She had on board about thirty prisoners on her arrival. The Essex frigate sailed from the capes of the Delaware on the 25th of October, 1812, on a cruise to the Pacific ocean, Letters, however, dated July 2, 1813, were received at the navy department about the middle of December following, from her commander, captain Porter, at which time he was cruizing off the western coast of South America, with a fleet of nine armed vessels under his command, eight of which were British letters of marque, which he hacl cap- tured and fitted out. The first of these vessels which was a ship of two guns and twenty-one men, was captured on the 29th of April. Two others were then in sight close together, about seven miles distant from the Essex; the one mounting ten guns, six and nine pounders; the other six eighteen pounders, four swivels, and six long blunderbusses, mounted on swivels. The wind being light and variable, and Confiding greatly in the bravery and enterprize of his officers and men. and apprehensive of their escape, from the prevalence 68 iUSTOKY OF THE WAR. of fogs iu that climate, Porter directed the boats of the Essex to be armed and manned, and divided into two divisions. Suit- able signals were established, and each boat had her particular station pointed out for the attack, and every other previous ar- irangement was made to prevent confusion. The boats, seven in numher, rowed off in admirable order. Guns were fired from the enemy to terrify then); they rowed up, however, undismayed, under the muzzles of their guns, and took their stations for attacking the first ship, and no sooner was the American flag displayed, as the signal for boarding, and the intention discovered by the enemy, than their colours were struck without a shot being fired. They then left a crew on board the prize, and took their stations for attacking the other vessel, when her flag was also struck, on the first call to surrender. Thus were two fine British ships, each pierced for twenty gims, worth near half a million of dollars, mounting between them sixteen guns, and manned with 55 men, well supplied with ammunition and small arms, surrendered without the slightest resistance, to seven small open boats, with fifty men, armed only with muskets, pistols, boarding axes, and cut- lasses. On the 26th of March, previous to the capture of any of the letters of marque, Porter fell in with the Peruvian corsair ship Nereyda, mounting fifteen guns., which had, a few days be- fore captured two American whale ships, the crews of v/hich, amounting in number to 24 men, were then detained prison- ers on board. As they could assign no other motive for the capture than that they were the allies of Great Britain, and, as such, should capture all American vessels they could fall in with, Porter, to prevent in future such vexatious proceeding, threw all her armament into the sea, liberated the Americans, and dismissed the Nereyda. He then proceeded with all pos- sible despatch for Lima, to intercept one of the detained ves- sels, which had parted company with the Nereyda only three days before, and was so fortunate as to arrive there, and re- capture her on the 5th of April, at the moment she was enter- ing the port. Captain Porter described his crew as enjoying remarkably good health and spirits, no symptoms of scurvy having ap- peared, although they had been at sea for eight months, with the exception of 23 days. The Essex was in prime order, with abundant supplies, and two of her consorts were fitted out with 20 guns each, and well manned. He mentioned that British letters of marque were numerous in those seas, and that the American wlraleis had derived much benefit from his cruise IllolOKY OF THE WAR. The bravery and enterprizc of American seamen have not been less conspicuous on board of our privateers than in our national vessels. We shall ticre present an account of a few of the most conspicuous actions that have taken place. In no one action fought during the present war, has there been more courage and gallantry displayed than in the attack made by the privateer Rolla on the British ship Rio Neuva.— The Rolla originally carried four twelve pound carronades in her waist, and one double fortified twelve mounted on a pivot. In a gale of wind off Madeira, the 4 twelve pounders were obliged to be thrown overboard, and only one gun remained; with this, however, on the i4th of December, 1812, the Rolla attacked the Rio Neuva, mounting 18 guns and 30 men, and took her after an action of twenty-five minutes. During the action, the men on board the Rolla, animated by the courage and conduct of captain Dooley and his officers, evinced a fixed determination to take the enemy or perish. When the ship struck, the Rolla had ranged up within pistol shot, and was preparing to board. The privateer schooner Comet, captain Thomas Boyle, sailed from Cape Henry, on the 25th of November, 1812, on a cruize to the coast of South America. On the 12th of Decem- ber, at one in the afternoon, siic discovered four sail standing out of Pernambuco, and lay by to give them an opportunity ot getting off shore, in order to cut them off. At three, they be- ing then about six leagues from the land, she bore up and made all sail in chase of them; and at six having discovered one of them to be a very large man of war brig, all hands were called to quarters, the guns loaded with round and grape shot, the deck cleared, and all got ready for action. At seven, being then close to the chase, the Comet hoisted her colours, and sheered up to the man of war, which had hoisted Portuguese colours. The Portuguese then sent his boat on board the Co- met, the officer of which informed captain Boyle, that the brig was a Portuguese national vessel, mounting twenty thirty-two pounders, and 165 men, and that the three others were English vessels under his protection, which. he would not suffer to be molested; he also mentioned that the English vessels were armed and very strong. Boyle having sho\\n him his cop- mission, answered, that the brig had no right to protect English vessels on the high seas, and that he was determined to cap- ture those vessels if he could; that he should be sorry if any thing disagreeable took place, but if it did he would not be the aggressor; but that he should certahily resist any attempt to Dievent his capturing the vessels. The officer having now re- G 70 JllSTOliy OF THE WAK. turned 011 board the brig, Boyle hailed her, and distinctly stated his intention of immediately attacking the convoy, which con- sisted of a ship of 14 guns, and two brigs of 10 guns each, the whole force, including the Portuguese, being 54 guns. Boyle accordingly made all sail for the English vessels, wjiich were close together, and about half past eight, the moon shining clear, he hailed the ship, ordering them to back the main-top-sails. Little or no answer being given, Boyle, having quick way at the time, shot a little ahead, saying that he should be along side again in a few minutes, when, if his orders were not obeyed, , a broadside would be poured into him. After a few minutes he tacke<^, the man of war close after him. He then ran alongside the ship, one of the brigs being close to herj and opened his broadside upon them both, all the vessels at this time carrying a crowd of canvass. From his superior sailing, Boyle was frequently obliged to-tack, by which he would have received considerable advantage, had he not been closely fol- lowed by the man of war, which now opened a heavy fire upon him; which was returned by the Comet. Having now the whole force to contend with, Boyle kept as close as possible to the English vessels, which frequently separated to give the man of war an opportunity of giving a broadside. The Comet continued the action, sometin\es pouring her broadsides into the merchantmen, at others into the man of war, until eleven o'clock, when the ship surrendered, being all cut to pieces, and Tendered unmanageable, and directly after one of the brigs, which was also very much disabled. A boat was now despatch- ed to take possession of the brig, but it was forced to return, being prevented from passing by the fire of the man of war; one of whose broadsides almost succeeded in sinking it. The Comet now directed the whole of her fire at the Portuguese, who soon sheered off, and was followed for a short distance by the Comet, which then returned, and made the third merchant- man surrender, she also being cut to pieces. ♦ Boyle now took possession of the Bowes, the brig that had first surrendered. He also spoke the ship, and ordered the captain to follow him, who answered that his ship was in a sinking condition, having many shot holes between wind and water,' and not a rope but what was cut away; but that he would, if possible, follow his orders for his own safety. As soon as the Bowes was taken possession of, she received a pass- ing broadside from the Portuguese. The moon having now set, it became very dark and squally, and the Comet was sepa- rated from all the vessels except the man of war, with whom for half an hour longer she continued occasionally to exchange HISTORY OF THE WAR. ' * broadsides. At day-light, however, the vessels being found to be still in the neighbourhood, the Comet wore close to her prize. The man of war then stood down for them; on per- ceiving which, Boyle immediately hove about, and stood for him, when he also tacked, and made signals for the convoy to make the first port. The two merchantmen accordmgly put before the wind, accompanied by the Portuguese, by whose as- sistance and their own exertions, they succeeded with the ut- most difficulty in regaining the harbour of Pernambuco, leav- ing the Bowes in possession of thq Comet. On the 11th of March 1813, the General Armstrong, a pn- vateer schooner, while cruizing off the mouth of Surinam river- discovered a sail, which was supposed to be a British letter of marque, and immediately bore down on her, with the intention of giving her two brordsides and then boarding. Al- ter giving her one broadside, and wearing and giving another, to their surprise they found they were alongside of a frigate, pierced for 14 guns on the main deck, 6 on the quarter-deck, and 4 on the forecastle. The wind being light, the privateer lay for about ten minutes like a log in the water. During that time however, they shot away the frigate's fore-top-sail tie, his mizen gaff haulyards, which'brought his colours down, and his mizen and main stay, when thinking she had struck, they ceased firing; but being soon undeceived, they recommenced the action. The frigate lay for a 'few minutes apparently un- manageable, iDUt soon getting way, opened such a heavy fire as would soon have sunk the schooner, had she not succeeded in making her escape by the assistance of her sweeps. In this action, which continutjd for 45 minutes, the privateer had six men killed and 16 wounded. All the haulyards of her head sails were shot aw^y, the foremast and bowsprit one quarter cut through, all the fore and main shrouds but one cut away, both mainstays and running rigging cut to pieces, a great num^ ber of shot through the sails, and several between wind and water, which caused the vessel to leak, and a number in the hull. While they were getting away from the frigate, she kept up a well .directed fire for the foremast and gaff of the schooner, but without effect. On the 5th of August 1813, the privateer Decatur, being on a cruize, discovered a ship and a schooner, the first of whicu proved to be the British packet Princess Charlotte, the other the British vessel of war, the Dominica. She immediately stood towards them, and soon found herself abreast of the schooner. Both vessels continued to manoeuvre for two or three hours, the Dominica endeavouring to escape, and the tz HISTORY OF THE WAR. Decatur to board, during which lime several broadsides were fired by the former, and a number of shot from the large gun of the latter. The Decatur at hist succeeded in boarding the Dominica, a number of men passing into her stern from the bowsprit. The fire from the artillery and musquetry was now terrible, being well supported on both sides. The Dominica, however, not being able to disengage herself, dropped along- side of the Decatur, and in this position was boarded by her whole crew. Fire arms now became useless, the cre\('s fight- ing hand to hand with cutlasses, and throwing cold shot; when, tlie captain and principal officers of the Dominica being kill- ed, and her deck covered with dead and wounded, the British colours were hauled down by the conquerors. During the combat, which lasted an hour, the Princess Charlotte remained a silent spectator of the scene, and as soon as it was over, she tacked about and stood to the southward. She had sailed from St. Thomas, bound to England, under convoy, to a certain latitude, of the Dominica. The Decatur was armed with 6 twelve pound carronades, and one eighteen pounder on a pivot, with 103 men. Ker loss in the action was three killed and sixteen wounded, one of whom afterwards died. The Dominica had 12 twelve pound carron- ades, two long sixes, one brass four pounder, and one thirty- two pound carronade on a pivot, with 83 men. She had dL3 killed, and 47 wounded, five of whom afterwards died of their wounds. Perhaps this engagement has been the most bloody, and the loss in J^iiled and wounded on the part of the enemy, in proportion to the number engaged, perhaps the greatest, of any action to be found in the records <:»r iru'al warfare. The surviving officers of the Dominica attribute the loss of their vessel to the superior skill of the Decatur's crew in the use of musquetry, and the masterly manoeuvering of that vessel, by which their carriage guns were rendered nearly useless. — The captain was a young man of not more than 25 years of age; he had been wounded early in the action by two musket balls in the left arm, but he fought till the last moment, refus- ing to surrend'er his vessel, although he was urged by the fevy survivors of his crew to do so; declaring his determination not to survive her loss. The Decatur arrived at Charleston on the 20th of August with her prize. The surviving officers of th« Dominica spoke in the highest terms of approbation of the humanity and atten- tion displayed towards them by the officers and crew of the Decatur. Towards the beginning of January general Tupper having HISIORY OF THE WAR. i\J ra a manner paved the way by his expeditloiiS, general Wii> Chester proceeded down the iMmmi iVom Fort Defumce to the Rapids, with the force under his command. Ou his arrival there, he was strongly urged by the inhabitants of Frcnchtown, on the river Raisin, to protect them from tlie violence and out- rage of the horde of savages by whom they were surrounded, and to wliose brutalities they were daily exposed. Yielding to the call of humanity, Winchester, on the 1 7th of January, by the unanimous advice of his officers, but, it appears, without consulting general Harrison, detached a body of about 750 men, under general Lewis to their relief. On the following day, when within three miles cf French- town, information was received that a body of British and In- dians were encamped at that place, and that they had received notice of their approach. The troops were accordingly arrang- ed and directed to prepare for action, and then proceeded with- in a quarter of a mile of the enemy, who immediately com- menced a fire with a howitzer, from which, however, no inju- ry was received. The line of battle being instantly formed, the whole detachment was ordered to advance across the river on the ice; in which they succeeded, though it was in many places extremely slippery. The left v;iiig and centre were then ordered to possess themselves of the Jiouses and picket- ing about which the enemy had collected, and where they had placed their cannon. This order was executed in a few min- utes. Both battalions advanced amidst an incessant shower of bullets and succeeded in dislodging the enemy, neither the picketing nor the fencing over which they had to pass check- ing their progress. The right wing fell ia with the enemy at a considerable dis- tance to the right, and pursued them a mile to the woods, where they made « stand with their howitzer and small arme> covered by a chain of enclosed lots and a group of houses, with a thick brushy wood full of fallen timber in their rear. Lewis now orderea the left and centre to possess themselves of the wood on the left, and to move up towards the main body of the enemy as fast as practicable, in order to divert their attention from the right. At the moment that the left and centre com- menced their fire, the right advanced, and the enemy being soon driven from the fences and houses, both parties entered the wood together. The fight now became close and ex- tremely hot on the right wing, the enemy concentrating thei; forces on that side, in order to force the line. They were, however, still obliged to retreat, although slowly, the Ameri- cans being ^much fatigued, and were driven in the. whole, no: G 2 *^ 21IST0RT( OF THK WAR. 3ess than two miles, every foct of the way under a continua. charge. The battle lasted froin three in the afternoon till dark, when the detachment was drawn off in good order, and encamped at th^ place which the enemy had first occupied. The force of the enemy in this affair has never been exactly ascertained; but from the best information, there were 80 to 100 British and 400 Indians. The number of their killed and wounded is likewise unknown, as they were enabled to carry off all but those left on the field where the battle commenced, which was about fifteen; but from the blood, the trails of bodies dragged off, and the reports of the people who lived near the place, the slaughter must have been great. One Indian and two of the Canadian militia were taken prisoners. A quantity of public stores was also taken. The loss of the Americans ■was twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. On the 20th, general Winchester joined the detachment, with a reinforcement of 250 men. Meanwhile colonel Proctor, who commanded at Detroit, hearing of the approach of the Americans, advanced to meet them with a body of 1500 Indians and British, 300 of whom were regulars. On the night of the 21st he discovered the American detachment, and early next morning commenced an ; ttack on their lines. The attack commenced at 6 in the morn- ing, by a heavy fire of musquetry, assisted by six field pieces. The main body of the Americans were stationed within pick- . ts on the left; a smaller force unprotected occupied the right, who gallantly sustained the shock for a quarter of an hour, •vhent4iey began to give ground for the plirpose of forming in • situation more favourable for their fire, and less exposed to •11 at of the enemy. At this moment Winchester arrived at the ]ilace of conflict, his quarters having been at the distance of 'hrce or four hundred yards from the camp, and his attention V, as immediately directed to rally the retreating party. This letreat, however, being discovered by the enemy, the whole Indian force, together with a portion of the militia, bore down •ipon them with retloubled violence, and by the superiority of their numbers, and the severity of their fire, prevented their forming. After a shqrt conflict, in which they suffered severe- ly, all that survived, were made prisoners. The left who were stationed within the pickets, maintained their ground for several hours, and repulsed the British regu- lars, in three successive charges, with great slaughter. About 1 1 o'clock, however, Winchester was brought in as a prisoner to this part of tiie field, and perceiving that resistance was in HISTOIIY OF THE WAH. 75 vain, and influenced by the threat of their beini^ abandoned to savage fury unless they instantly surrendered, he acceded to a capitulation, and sent a fiaglo the pickets to inform them they were prisoners. General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, when he received the intelligence of Lewis having advanced to the river Raisin, and fearing that he might be overpowered, he immediately set out for the Rapids, which he found that Winchester had just left with the reinforcement. When the news of Winchester's disaster reached Harrison, he was about three miles above the Rapids, with 360 men. He immediately ordered them to pre- pare to march, and set out with his staff to overtake a detach- ment of 300 men that had set out that morning for the river Raisin. He soon overtook them; bat before the troops that he had left came up, it was ascertained that the defeat was com- plete, and it was the unanimous opinion of the officers that the detachment should return. A hundred and seventy of the most active men, however, were sent forward with directions to proceed as far as possible to assist those who were fortunate enough to escape. These, however, were but few; the snow was so deep that the fugitives were entirely exhausted in run- ning a few miles, those that did get off effected it by turning down to the lake, and secreting themselves. There were not more than 40 or 50 that got a mile from the scene of action, and the greater part of these were overtaken. Though the resistance on the part of the Americans was put an end to by the capitulation concluded by Winchester, we regret to say, that the most tragical events of this disastrous day are still to be recorded, events which affix an indelible stain on the arms of the British. After the battle the British returned to Maiden with their prisoners, except about 50 or 60 wounded, who were not able to march. A few of the Indians remained behind, who, being joined next morning by about 50 more .from Maiden, immediately commenced a massacre of the wounded Americans, and afterwards set fire to the houses in which they had been left, and consumed their remains. The same day the Indians massacred a number of their prisoners, who had not been wounded, whose remains they would not suf- fer to be interred, but left them above ground, where they were torn to pieces and devoured by hogs- These horrid outrages are but too well substantiated, not only by the inhabitants of Frenchtown, but by some of the officers who had the good for- tune to escape, by being purchased from the savages. Great indignities were likewise inflicted on a surgeon and his two companions, who, but a few days after the battle, had been des- 76 ^ HISTORY OF THE WAR, patched by Harrison 3¥ith a flag of truce, to attend to the wounded. One of them was killed by the Indians, and the others robbed of the money with which they had been entrust- ed by the general, for the relief of the most pressing wants of the wounded. After suffering many indignities, not only from the Indians but from the British, under the flimsy pretext oi their using the flag only as a cover,* they were at length set at liberty at Montreal, whither they had been carried and im- prisoned. On the 23d of January, the day after the surrender of Win- chester, Harrison retreated to Carrying river, about midway between Sandusky and the Miami. In the following month he again advanced to the Rapids, where he constructed a fort, which in honour of the governor of Ohio, was named Fort Meigs. This fort contains about nine acres of ground, nearly in an octagon form. At each corner is a strong block-house, with cannon planted so as to rake each line, and command every elevated point near the fort. Between the block-houses are strong picketings fifteen feet in height, against which abreast- work of clay was thrown up on both sides, and in addition to this, several long batteries were erected, which were well sup- plied with cannon. The term of service of a large portion of the militia in Har- rison's army having expired, 1200 men were called out by the governor of Kentucky, and despatched under general Green Clay to supply their place. They left Cincinnati, their place of rendezvous, in the beginning of April, and arrived near Fort Meigs on the 4th of May, which they learnt was beseig- ed by a large force of British and Indians, under general Proc- tor. . Proctor had set out for Fort Meigs with 1000 British and ] 200 Indians, about the middle of April, with the expectation of capturing it before the arrival of Harrison's reinforcements and supplies; but owing to incessant and h^plavy rains, he was not able to open his batteries before the first of May. A brisk firing vvas kept up on both sides until the fifth, when a small party of general Clay's detachment arrived, with information * General Harrison in his oj^lciai dispatch^ states^ that the surgeon ivas furnishtd with a letter addressed to any British officer he might meet^ describing the character in •ivhich he ivent^ and the object for 'which he rjas sent, an open letter to general Winchester^ and written instructions to himself all of which he was directed to show to the Jirst officer he nut with. iiXSTORY OF THE WAR. 77 of the rest being close at. hand. Orders were immediately dispatched to Clay, to proceed down the river in his boats, to land 800 men on the left bank of the river, who should imme- diately attack the enemy's batteries, and spike their cannon, and the remainder on the right bank, who would be aided by a sortie of the garrison. The plan was successfully executed, the cannon were spiked, but unfortunately, instead of returning across the river to the fort, they pursued the flying enemy to the woods where they were surrounded, and the greatest por- tion tak^n prisoners. A great part of the baggage was also taken in the boats by the Indians. ^ Notwithstanding the unfortunate issue of this affair, how- ever. Fort Meigs was relieved. Proctor, being deserted by the Indians, whom their chiefs could not prevent returning to their villages, as Is their custom after any battle of consequence, with tlaeir prisoners and plunder, made a precipitate retreat on the 9th of May, having previously secured their ordnance on board a sloop. No event of consequence took place on the New York fron- tier during the winter. The opposing armies being divided by a barrier of ice, not sufficiently strong to allow of the trans- portation of artillery, peace was only disturbed by a few petty incursions, which each party justified by the plea of retaliation. On the 6th of February, captain Forsythe, the commanding officer at Ogdensburg, on the St. Lawrence, received informa- tion that several men who had deserted from the opposite shore, on the ice, had been taken on the American side by a party of British, and carried off and confined in the jail at I3,rockville. In consequence of this instrusion, as it was deemed, Forsythe the same evening crossed over with about 200 militia and rifle- men, for the purpose of retaking the prisoners, and capturing the military stores at Brockville. On approaching the Canada shore, a flanking company was detached above, and another below the town, to secure all the passes, to prevent informa- tion being communicated to the country. Before the main force reached the shore they were fired at by the centinels, but, instead of returning it, they rushed through the main street to the jail, which was instantly carried, the prisoners liberat- ed, and then the magazine was secured. The troops in the town were completely surprised. One major, three captains, three lieutenants, one surgeon's mate, and forty-two privates, together with their arms, besides 130 rifles and muskets cap- tured by the British at Detroit, and several casks of powder and fixed ammunition, were secured and broug^ht off/ Perfect 7S ^ * HISTORY OF THE WAR. Al oi'der was observed by the officers and men, scrupulous respect paid to private property, and no injury was done to any indivi- dual. Although a severe fire was kept up from the houses as the Americans advanced tt the jail, there were none killed and but one wounded. The following evening a party of 46 Indians, headed by a British officer, crossed over from Prescott, a village in Canada, a mile and a half above Ogdensburg, for the purpose of captur- ing a picket guard of nine men, belonging to Forsythe's com- pany. They succeeded in taking the centinel on post, and then attacked the guard, but were repulsed by their steady bravery, > aided by their advantageous position. The succeeding evening 15 or 20 American volunteers again crossed, and took a lieute- nant and two men, together with 15 or 20 stand of arms. On the morning of the 22d of February, the British crossed over in considerable foixre, and succeeded in capturing Og- densburg. Forsythe, with a force of less than half that of the British, effected his retreat to Black* Lake in a masterly man- ner. Considerable alarm for the safety of Sackett*s Harbour was excited by this event, and immediate measures were taken for reinforcing it. No attempts were made, however, at fur- ther conquest. The British shortly after retired across the St. Lawrence. The ice having disappeared on Lake Ontario about the mid- dle of April, the look-out boat Growler sailed from Sackett's Harbour on the 19th to reconnoitre the lake and immediate pre'parations were made for an embarkation of troops for the invasion of Canada. The troops, to the number of 1700, un- ^ der the command of general Dearborn, were embarked by the 23d, but the weather proving stormy, the fleet did not sail till the 25th. On the morning of the 27th they arrived off York, the capi- tal of Upper Canada, and left the fleet, having taken a position to the south and westward of the principal fort, and as near . the shore as possible; the debarkation of the troops commenced about 8, and was completed about 10 in the forenoon. The place fixed on for landing was a clear field, the^scite of the old French fort Tarento, but the wind blowing heavy from the east- ward the boats fell to leeward, by which they were exposed to a galling fire from the enemy, who had taken a position in a thick wood, near where the troops were obliged to land. This circumstance lik^ivise prevented the fleet from covering the landing. The cooi intrepidity of the officers and men, however, overcame every obstacle. The nflemen under Forsythe first landed, under a heavy fire HISTORY OF THE WAR. 79 from the enemy, who had collected all their force at this point, consisting of 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians com- manded by general Sheaffe in person. The contest was sharp and severe for about half an hour, w^en about 700 or 800 of the Americans having landed, commanded by general Pike, and the remainder of the troops pushing for the shore, the enemy retreated to their works, leaving a number of killed and wound- ed on the field. As soon as the troops were landed, the schoo- ners were directed to take a position near the forts*, in order that the attack upon them by the army and navy ijnight be si- multaneous. Pike, having formed the troops on the ground originally in- tended for their landing, advanced to the batteries, which now opened their fire; which was returned from the schooners, that had beat up to a position within 600 yards of the principal fort. The troops were led in the most gallant manner by general Pike, who carried two redoubts, and was approaching the prin- cipal work, when the enemy having previously laid a train, blew up his magazine, by which a great number of the troops were killed and wounded, and, among the former, the ever to be lamented general Pike. VVhen the fall of Pike was made known to general Dearborn, he landed and took the command of the troops. As soon as the magazine was blown up, the British set fire to their naval stores and a ship on the stocks; and then the regu- lars with Sheaffe at their head, made a precipitate retreat from the town. By two in the afternoon the American flag was substituted for the British, and by four the troops were in peaceable possession of York, a capitulation having been agreed on with the militia commanding officer, by which the town, stores, and nearly 300 militia were surrendered. The total loss in killed on this occasion was, in battle 14 and by explosion 38; w^ounded in battle 32, by explosion 23-2, ^. ,The loss acknowledged by the British in their official ac- count is: killed 62, wounded 34,. wounded and prisoners 43, prisoners 10, and missing 7. - This loss of killed, wounded, and prisoners, however, must only include the regulars, as 300 militia were surrendered in I he town. The day after the capture of York was employed in burying ihe dead. The public buildings, barracks, &c. were then des- troyed, together with the military stores that could not be brought away, and by the first of May the town was entirely evacuated, the militia prisoners parolled, and the troops em- barked; but owing to contrary winds, the fleet did not sail till 80 HISTORY OF THE Vi'Ali. thfe 8th, On the afternoon of the same day they arrived at Four Mile Creek, below Fort Niagara, where the troops and public property were landed, and, on the 10th Chauncey again sailed for Sackett's Harbour for j^einforcements. The day previous to his depalture, two schooners, with 100 picked men, sailed for the head of the lake to seize a quantity of public stores. — The stores were found to be guarded by about 80 regulars, who were repulsed, the stores brought away, the public build- ings burnt, and the expedition returned to Fort Niagara with- out loss. » Chauncey arrived at Sackett*s Harbour on the 13th of May, and having received 350 troops on board, again sailed on the 2^2d, and arrived near Fort Niagara on the 25th, where the troops were landed. A council was immediately held by gen- eral Dearborn, for the purpose of making arrangements for im- mediately passing to the opposite shore. Next day Chauncey reconnoitered the position for landing the troops, and at night sounded the shore, and placed buoys to point out the stations for the small vessels. He then took on board of the Madison, Oneida, and Lady of the Lake all the heavy artillery, and as many troops as could be stowed. On the 27th, at three in the morning, the signal was made for the fleet to weigh, and before four the remainder of the troops were embarked on board of boats, which were directed to follow the fleet. The schooners were judiciously placed in positions to silence the enemy's batteries, and cover the land- ing of the troops, within musket shot of the shore. In ten mi- nutes after they opened on the batteries, they were complete- ly silenced and abandoned. The troops then advanced in three brigades, and landed near a fort which had been silenced, at Two Mile creek. Immedi- ately on their landing, the enemy, who had been concealed in a ravine, advanced in great force to the edge of the bank, in order to charge them; but the schooners opened so well directed and tremendous a fire of grape and cannister, that they were soon obliged to retreat. The troops formed as soon as they landed and immediately ascended the bank, and charged and routed the enemy in every direction, the schooners still keeping up a constant and well-directed fire. Tlie British now re-entered Fort George, and set fire to their magazines, after which they jtiQved oft" rapidly towards Queenstown, and were pursued by the light troops for several miles. The main body, how- ever, having been under arms from one in the morning, were too much exhausted for further pursuit. They returned to Fort George, of which they had quiet possession jjy twelve oVJock. HISTORY OF THE WAR. 81 On this occasion we find the first mention made of captain Perry, the hero of lake ]'2ric. He volunteered his services to commodore Chauncey, and rendered great assistance in arrang- ing and superintending the debai^ation of the troops. He was present at every point where he could be useful, under showers of musquetry, but fortunately escaped unhurt. I'lie next day he was despatched to Black Rock, with fifty«five seamen, to pre- pare and take the command of the squadron fitting out there. The loss of the Americans in capturing Fort George, was 39 killed and 111 wounded. The British lost 108 killed and 278 prisoners, of whom 163 were wounded. The number of militia parolled by general Dearborn was 507. The day after the capture of the fort, general Lewis marched Avith Chandler's and Winder's brigades, and the light artillery, dragoons, and riflemen, in pursuit of the British, by the way of Queenstown. Information had been received that they had made a stand on the mountain, at a place called the Beaver Dam, where they had a depot of provisions and stores, and that they had been joined by 300 regulars from Kingston and were calling in the militia. Dearborn therefore was in hopes thatj confiding in the strength of his position, the enemy would await an action, by which- an opportunity would be afibrded to cut oft' his retreat. In this expectation, however, he was disap- pointed. The troops at Fort Erie blew up their magazine, and joined the main body at Beaver Dam, who then broke up and retreated along the mountains towards the head of Lake On- tario. The same evening Fort Erie was taken possession of by a party from the opposite shore, and Lewis, finding thatth^; enemy had made their escape, returned to Fort George. Dearborn, still in hopes of being able to cut oft' the retreat of the enemy, on the 1st of June detaclied general Winder with his brigade, and one regiment from Boyd*s brigade, along the -lake shore. On the 3d general Chandler followed with the re- mainder of Boyd's brigade. The British general, however, anticipated the blow, by attacking the American a^^iiy before day on the morning of the 6th. Unfortunately, although tiie American loss was but small, and the enemy, whose force was -very inferior, driven from the field, yet both the generals, Chandler and Winder, were taken prisoners. In this attack the Americans lost two generals and several other ofticers, but a greater number of prisoners were lost by the enemy. Dearborn received the intelligence of this afiair late in the same evening, and immediately despatched general Lewis to take the command of the troops. He arrived and took the command in the afternoon of the 7th. The British likewise H 82 HISTORY OF THE WAR. despatched a messenger to sir James Yeo, who was off York with the British fleet, with orders to co-operate in the attack on the Americans. Lewis found the army encamped at the Forty Mile Creek, on a plain of about a mile in width, ten miles in the rear of the ground where it had been attacked, its right flank resting on the lake, and its left on a creek which skirts the base of a perpendicular mountain of a considerable height. Lewis had scarcely arrived at the camp before the hostile fleet hove in sight. It did not approach near enough before dark, however, to enable them to ascertain with certainty whe- ther it was Yeo's or Chauncey's squadron. In this state of un- certainty, the army lay on their arms all night, and at break of day struck their tents, when the hostile fleet was discovered abreast of them, ^bout a mile from the shore. About 6, it be- ing a dead calm, the enemy towed in shore a large schooner, which on her approach, opened her fire on the boats which the army had employed for the transportation of their baggage and camp equipage, which then lay on the beach. As soon as her object was perceived, four pieces of artillery were sent down to the shore, and captain Totten of the engineers was ordered to construct a furnace for heating shot, which was prepared and in operation in less than 30 minutes, and the schooner was soon compelled to retire. . A party of Indians now made their appearance on the brow of the mountain, (which being perfectly bald, exhibited them to view), and commenced a fire on the camp. They were quickly dislodged, however, by a small party under the com- mand of lieutenant Eldridge. The Americans lost not a man by the attacks of the fleet and Indians. Sir James L. Yeo now sent on shore an ofiicer with a flag, demanding a surrender of the army, it being invested with sa- v-ages in its rear, a fleet in its front, and a powerful army on its flank. To this demand general Lewis only answered, that " the message was too ridiculous to merit a reply.'* Between 7 and 8 o'clock the four waggons that were with the army were loaded with the sick, and with ammunition; the camp equipage and baggage were put in the boats, and 700 men were detached to proceed in them for their protection. By some irregularity, however, the boats, induced probably by the stillness of the morning, put ofi* before the detachment reached the «hore, and they had not proceeded above three miles, when a breeze sprung up, which enabled an armed schooner to over- haul them. Some of the boats, however, kept on and escaped; the others were run to the shore and deserted, twelve of whic-h V, ere lost, prir-cipally loaded with baggage. At 10 o*clock the HISTORY OF the; WAR. 83 army was put in motion, and reached Fort George with the loss only of a few stragglers, who were picked up by the mi- litia and Indians. Shortly after this affair, the American troops concentrated at Fort George, having evacuated Fort Erie, and the remain- der of the Niagara frontier. On the evening of the 23d of June, Dearborn despatched lieutenant-colonel Bcerstler, with 570 men, to Beaver Dam, a few miles beyond Queenstown, to attack and disperse a body of the enemy, who had collected there for the purpose of pro- curing provisions, and harrassing those of the inhabitants who were considered friendly to the United States. The force of the enemy was understood to be about 80 regulars, 1 30 or 200 militia, and from 50 to 60 Indians. About 8 next morning, when within about two miles of Bea- ver Dam, Boerstler was attacked from an ambuscade, but soon drove the enemy some distance into the woods He then re- tired into a clear field, whence he immediately despatched an express for a reinforcement, stating that he would maintain his position till it arrived. Three hundred men were instantly marched to his relief. They were, however, too late; for on arriving at Queenstown they received authentic intelligence of the surrender of the whole detachment, and accordingly re- turned to camp. The British account of this affair states that the detachment to which Boerstler surrendered was but small, the Indians be- ing the only force actually engaged; but that his positioa was surrounded by woods, which he was led to believe was occu- pied by a superior force. While the American army was thus employed at Fort George, several enterprises were undertaken by the British. On the night of the 27th of May, a force of upwards of 1000 men, cin- der sir George Prevost, were embarked at Kingston on board the British squadron, and in open boats, and immediately sailed for Sackett's Harbour. Next morning they were observed by- lieutenant Chauncey, who commanded the small naval force remaining there, the principal part of the American squadron being engaged at Fort George; he immediately sailed into the harbour firing alarm guns. The alarm being immediately communicated, guns were likewise fired from the alarm posts, iR order to bring in the militia, and instant meatiures were taken to resist the attack. No attempt, however, was made to land on the 28th, the at- tention of the enemy being drawn off, at the moment when all was prepared for landing, by the appearance of a Heel of Ame- ■^- HISTORY OF THE WAR. . iCan barges passing from Oswego for SackeU*s Harbour. The barges of the enemy were immediately despatched to cut them off, and succeeded in taking 12; the troops, however had pre- viously succeeded in landing and gaining the woods, and came into Sackett's Harbour the same evening. The remaining seven boats outsailed the enemy's barges, and got safe into port. It is presumed that the landing was now put off till next morn- ing, under the expectation of cutting off more barges, as the fleet hauled their wind and stood into South Bay, and the arm- ed barges were despatched, apparently in order to waylay them. During the night a considerable militia force came in, and were stationed on the water side, near Horse Island, on which was placed a small body of Albany volunteers. The moment it was light, the enemy's squadron was perceived in line be- tween Stony Point and Horse Island, and shortly after troops were landed on the latter, from thirty-lhrce large boats, under cover of their gun-boats. General Brown, who commanded the post, had directed that the volunteers should retreat across the neck which joins Horse Island to the main land, in case qf the enemy landing therc^ which they accordingly did, and joined the militia under his command, amounting to between four and five hundred men. The enemy havijig landed and passed to the main land, were marching to thp-town, when they received the fire of the volun- teers and militia, which somewhat checked their progress. — Unfortunately, however, the militia, totally unacquainted with military discipline, after giving the first fire, rose from their cover and fled to the woods. The handful of volunteers, thus losing their support, were likewise forced to retreat, but being- joined by a few regulars from the tov/n, succeeded in rallying a portion of the militia, and, by the aid of the fire from the fort, soon forced the enemy to withdraw to their ships. Un- fortunately, the officer who was entrusted with the care of the navy barracks and store-houses, who had been instructed to fire them in case of the enemy proving victorious, mistaking the flight of the militia for a complete repulse, set them on fire, and they were totally consumed. The American loss in this attack was twenty-one killed and eighty-four wounded, of the volunteers and regulars, and twen- ty-six missing. Of the militia there were twenty-five killed, wounded, and missing. Of the enemy, twenty-nine were found dead in the field, and twenty-two wounded, and thirty-five were made prisoners; in addition, many were killed in the boats while effecting their landing; a number were likewise carried off the field by the enemy, previous to the commencement of HISTORY OF THE WAR- 85 iiis retreat. In the British official account, their loss is stated as follows, viz: Killed forty -eight, wounded one hundred and ninety-five, wounded and missing, sixteen. Commodore Chauncey returned to Siickett's Harbour on the 1st of June, from Fort George, where he was compelled to re- main for near two months, until the new vessel, the General Pike, was ready for sea, as the enemy's fleet was now consi- derably superior in force. Meanwhile the British lorded it over the lake. On the 16th cf June their fleet appeared off the village of Sodus, where a quantity of provisions was deposited. The militia of the neigh- bourhood were instantly called to arms, and the following day arrived in considerable force. In the mean while, the enemy having disappeared, the provisions were removed from the warehouses on the water's edge to a small distance in the edge of the woods, and on the 19th the militia were discharged ex- cepting a small number as a guard. Before evening of the same day, however, the fleet again appeared. The alarm was instantly given, and expresses sent after the discharged mili- tia, who immediately returned, but not in time to save the place. — The enemy having landed, and finding that the great- er part of the provisions had been removed, set fire to all the valuable buildings in the place, which were consumed with their contents. The next day the fleet appeared off Fort Oswego, and made several attempts to land troops, but each time returned on see- ing the American troops ready to meet them on the shore. Another attempt was made on Sackett's Harbour on the night of the 2d of July, by a considerable force in open boats, headed by sir James Yeo. This scheme being discovered by a deserter, commodore Chaimcey as soon as possible got un- der way to intercept their retreat. The British, however dis- covered the desertion and decamped some time before the commodore could reach their place of landing. On the morning of the 11th of July, 250 British regulars crossed the Niagara river, and landed a little below Black Rock. On moving towards that place, they were discovered by about 200 militia who instantly fled. The enemy then set fire to the barracks, block-houses Sec. spiked several pieces of cannon, and took a quantity of flour and salt, and four small field pieces. While engaged in getting off the property, they were attacked by a force of )00 regulars, 130 militia and vol^ unteers and 20 or 30 Indians, who had come down from Buf- faloe, who poured in upon them a successful fire, by which a considerable number were killed, nine of whom werelqft dea,ti H 2 ^t> HISIORY or IHE V/AK, on the shore, besides a captaui mortally wounded. Fifteen prisoners also were taken. They succeeded, however, in car- rying off the property. The loss of the Americans was one killed and three wounded, two of whom afterwards died. Nor were the British inactive upon Lake Erie. After their retreat from Fort Meigs in the beginning of May, several tlireatening ilntovements were made from the lake at Fort Meigs, Lower Sandusky, Cleveland and Erie. No serious attempt was made, however, on any of these posts, until the first of August, when a combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least 500 regulars and seven or eight hundred Indians, under the immediate command of general Proctor, made its appear- ance before Lower Sandusky. As soon as the general had made such a disposition of his troops as would cut off the re- treat of the garrison, he sent colonel Elliot, accompanied by major Chambers, v»'ith a flag, to demand the surrender of the fort, stating that he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which he should probably not have in his power to do, should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. The commander of the fort was major Croghan, a youth of 21 years of age. His answer was that he was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, how- ever large, should induce him to surrender it. So soon as the flag returned, a brisk fire was opened upon the fort, from the i.',un-boats in the river, and from a five and a half inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission through- out the night. At an early hour the next morning, three sixes, which had been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets, began to play, but with little effect. About 4 in the afternoon, discovering that the fire from all the guns was concentrated against the north western angle of the fort, Croghan became confident that the object was to make a breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point. He therefore ordered out as iuany men as could be employd for the purpose of strength- ening that part, which was so effectually secured by means of bags of flour, sand, Sec. that the picketing suffered little or no injury; notwithstanding which, about 500 of the enemy, havmg formed in close column, advanced to assault the works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints on other parts of the fort. The column which advanced against the iiorth-westeni angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so com- pletely envelopecf in smoke, as not to be discovered until it had approached within 18 or 20 paces of the lines; but the men, being all at their posts and ready to receive it, com- HISTORY OF THE »'AR. 87 mcnced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column a little into confusion; being quickly rallied, however, it advanc- ed to the outer works, and began to leap into the ditch. At that moment a fire of grape was opened from a six-pounder, which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that di- rection, which, together with the musquetry, threw them into such confusion, that they were compelled to retire precipi- tately to the woods. During the assault, which lasted about half an hoar, an in- cessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery, which con- sisted of five sixes and a howitzer, but without eflfect. Before the attack was ended, the soldiers in the garrison supplied the wounded enemy in the ditch with water, by throw- ing ov^r full canteens. The whole number of men in the garrison -svas not more than 160. Their loss during the siege was one killed and se- ven wounded slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wound- ed, and prisoners, must have exceeded 150; one lieutenant- colonel, a lieutenant, and 50 rank and file were found in and about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remainder, who were not able to escape were taken off during the night by the Indians. About 3 in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving" behind them a boat containing clothing and consider- able military stores. - Seventy stand of arms, and several brace of pistols, were afterwards collected near the works. A few days after the assault, Proctor despatched a surgeon w^ith a flag of truce, to assist in the cate of the wounded, and with a request that such of the prisoners as were in a condi- tion to be removed might be permitted to return to Maiden, on his • parole of honour that they should not serve until ex- changed. Harrison, in his reply, stated, that on his arrival at Fort San- dusky on the morning of the 3d, he found that major Croghan, conformably to those principles which are held sacred in the American army, had caused all the care to be taken of the wounded prisoners that his situation would permit; that his hospital surgeon was particularly charged to attend to them, and he was warranted in the belief that every thing which sur- gical skill could give was afforded. They have been liberally furnished too, he added, with every article necessary in their situation which the hospital stores could supply. Having re- ferred to his government for orders respecting the disposition of the prisoners, he could not with propriety comply with the request of an immediate exchange. But he assured him, that 88 HISTORY OF THE WAR. as far as it depended upon him, the course of treatment whict. had been commenced towards them while in his possession would be continued. It is impossible here to avoid contrasting the conduct of Proctor and Harrison, in two exactly parallel cases, the care of the wounded, and treatment of the surgeon sent for their relief, after the battles of Frenchtown and Sandusky. In the one case the surgeon is treated with politeness, and only sent back because his aid is unnecessary, and the wounded are sup- plied with water by the garrison, even while the attack is car- ried on. The opposite conduct need not be repeated here. It has made too deep an impressicni to be so soon effaced. On the 26th of December 1812, an order in council was is- sued by the British government, declaring the Chesapeake and Delaware bays in a state of blockade, and on the 20th of March, all the ports south of Rhode Island were included. During the winter, intelligence had been repeatedly received by American prisoners from Bermuda, of the arrival of a British squadron at that place, well stored with bombs and Congreve rockets, and with a considerable body of troops on board, for the purpose of destroying some of our southern cities. The alarm, then, that was excited at Norfolk may be easily*f:onceived, when intelli- gence was received of the approach of this squadron, which on the 4th of February was perceived in the Chesapeake, standing towards Hampton Roads, to the number of two 74's three fri- gates, a brig and a schooner. The frigate Constellation had come down the bay, and anchored in Hampton Roads the day before, and on the arrival of the first news of the near approach of the hostile squadron, it being then ebb-tide, was fast aground at Willoughby spit. Fortunately, however, the flood made, and the ship was afloat before the enemy hove in sight. She was immediately brought up EUza.beth river to Norfolk, and anchored between the two forts. Every exertion was now made for the defence of the place, by calling out the militia, &c.; the recruits at the barracks were brought down to the fort, and the gun-boats stationed in the most favourable position to resist the expected attack. No at- tempt, however, was made upon the town. The squadron con- fined its operation to the capturing and destroying the bay craft, and forming an effectual blockade of the waters of the Chesapeake. About the same time a British squadron entered the Dela- ware bay, which consisted of the Poictiers, 74, the frigate Bel- videra, and several small vessels, and for some weeks were em- ployed in fixing buoys, intercepting and capturing the outward HISTORY OF THE WAR. 89 and inward bound vessels, and burning the bay craft. On the 16th of March, sir J. P. Beresford, the commander of the squadron, transmitted a letter to Lewistown, a small fishing town near the mouth of the bay, addressed to the first magis- trate, requesting him to send twenty live bullocks, with a pFo- portionate quantity of vegetables and hay, on board the Poic- tiers, for the use of the squadron, which should be immediate- ly paid for at the Philadelphia prices. The request was accom- panied with a threat, that in case of a refusal, he should burn the town. This demand was positively, though politely refused, as " a compliance would be an immediate violation of the laws, and an eternal stigma on the nation." To which Beresford answered, '' that the demand he had made was, in his opinion, neither un- generous, nor wanting in that magnanimity which one nation ought to observe to another M'ith which it is at war. It is in my power,'* continues he, *'^o destroy your town, and the request I have made lipon it, as the price of its security, is neither dis- tressing nor unusual. I must, therefore, persist, and whatever sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of Lewis, must be at- tributed to yourselves, by not complying with a request so ea- sily acquiesced in.'* Nothing further passed on the subject, till the 6th of April, when they renewed the demand, and fired several 32 pound shot into the town, previous to sending the flag on shore, to show that they were serious in their threats. In Beresford*s letter on this occasion, he urges that no dishonour can be attach- ed to complying with his demand, in consideration of his supe- rior force. " I must, therefore," continues he, " consider your refusal to supply the squadron as most cruel on your part to the inhabitants. I grieve for the distress the women and chil- dren are reduced to by your conduct; and earnestly desire they may be instantly removed." To this letter merely a verbal re- ply was returnjsd, that the commander, colonel Davis, was a gallant man, and had already taken care of the ladies. On the return of the flag, a cannonade was commenced from four launclies with 24 and 18 pounders; two sloops, with 32 pounders and a mortar; a pilot boat, with six pounders; and a schooner with 12 twelve pounders, covered by the frigate Belvidera: The town being seated on a considerable eminence, sustained little or no injury; the rockets passing over, and the bombs fall- ing short. The fire from an eighteen pounder on shore, which was supplied by shot thrown by the enemy, silenced one of their most dangerous gun-boats. Above 600 shot were fired at the place, a great part of which was afterwards dug", by the boys. 90 HISTORY O^ THE WAR. out of the sand, viz. 40 of 321b. 96 of 18lb. 156 of 12's and>'«, with a large quantity of 6's and grape, besides shells and re- mains of rockets. Not a man was killed on the side of the Americans during this attack. On the forenoon of the following day, a number of small boats approached the shore, apparently with the intention of landing; but, being gallantly met by the militia on the beaph, they were recalled by a signal from the squadron. In the Chesapeake the principal part of the squadron began to move up the bay about the beginning of April. On the 3d they anchored off the mouth of the Rappahannock, for the pur- pose of attacking the Dolphin, a privateer schooner of 10 guns; and three letters of marque bound for France, which had taken shelter in the river on the approach of the squadron. Their tenders and launches, to the number of 1 7, being mann- ed and sent up the river, a furious attack was made on the ves- sels, which unfortunately lay becalmed. Two of the letters of marque were speedily taken, they making but a slight resis- tance; the third was run ashore, and most of her crew escaped. The Dolpliin bore the brunt of the action. The whole force of the enemy was soon directed to her, and she gallantly sustained the contest for two hours, when, at last, they succeeded in boarding her. Even then, however, she did not strike. The fight continued for some time on deck, until, overpowered by numbers, the Americans were forced to submit, the enemy hav- ing previously pulled down the colours. A few days previous to this affair, a most unfortunate actfon took place here between the American privateer Fox and the United States' schooner Adeline and two gun-boats. The schooner and gun-boats were proceeding down the bay, under the command of lieutenant Sinclair, and at midnight made a harbour under Gwinn*s island, near the mouth of the Rappa- hannock. After having anchored in a line across the channel, Sinclair was hailed by the Fox, and each taking the other to be an enemy, and consequently refusing to send a boat onboard, Sinclair fired a musket ahead of the privateer, which she in- stantly returned with a broadside. The schooner and gun-boats then opened their fire, and in fifteen minutes silenced the privritter Being hailed, however, to know if she had struck, she renewed the action without an- swering, and in fifteen minutes more was again silenced. On being a second time hailed, she once moi'e opened her fire, which she continued for half an hour and then ciit her cable and escaped up the bay. On b6ard the Fox the captain and five men were badly wounded, she had one shot in her hull, and her sails HISTORY OF THE WAR. 91 &c. were very much cut. The damage on board the schooner, which bore the brunt of the action, was but small, only one man severely wounded, and the rigging a little cut. The hostile squadron continuing to stand up the bay, on the 9th of April they reached Annapolis, and on the 16th appeared off the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve or fourteen miles from Baltimore. Both Annapolis and Baltimore were threatened with an attack, but nothing was attempted, the enemy careful- ly keeping their vessels at a safe distance from the guns of the forts. But though the fortified towns escaped the vengeance which had so long been threatened, it was not the case with the un- protected villages, which skirt the rivers that fall into the head of the bay. Four of these were laid in ashes by admiral Cock- burn, who gallantly led the barges which ascended the rivers for this purpose. These plundering and burning expeditions will long render his name famous in the neighbourhood of the Chesapeake bay. Having sufficiently signalized their prowess by the burning of Frenchtown, Havre-de-Grace,* Georgetown, and Frederick- town, and the farm-houses, mills, 8cc. adjoining, the squadron returned down the bay, destroying the oyster-boats, wood-shal- lops, and other river craft in their progress, and showing them- selves, but at a convenient distmice, at every fortification near the bay. The squadron after returning down the bay, resumed their station in Hampton Roads, with the view of attacking Norfolk. Early on the morning of the 22d of June, they landed a large body of troops, from the accounts of deserters about 2500, on the west side of Elizabeth river, and marched them up towards Craney Island, the passage to which from the main land, is fordable at low water. Forty or fifty boats full of men, were then sent to effect a landing on the north side of the island, with whom the force on the main land was directed to co-operate. — The whole force on the island at the time of the attack was 487, riflemen, infantry, and artillery, and 1 50 seamen and marines, forty-three of whom were on the sick list. — With this handful * The burning and p.lundnrin^ tf Havre-de-Grace is fierhaps the most sii^nal of CockburrCs exfiloits. The houses being apart^ had to be separately set onjire; and the labour bestowed i?i in- juring the church 7nust have been very considerable, every pane, of glass in the building having been broken by stones and brick- bats. 92 HlSTOllY OF THE WAK. of men was the landing of the enemy successfully opposed, and they were forced to retreat to their ships, with the loss of sev- eral boats by the fire of the artillery. Foiled in their meditated attack on Norfolk by this repulse at the mouth of the ftarbour, the British again turned their at« tention to the easier task of laying waste unprotected villages, and that of Hampton, which lay nearly opposite, naturally pre- sented itself. Here they landed a body of 2500 men, with but little opposition; there being only a small detachment of mill* tia encamped near the town, who were soon forced to retreai under a heavy fire of artillery, musquetry and congreve rockets. The British now took possession of the village; and here a hor- rid scene of barbarity ensued, which was characterised by plun- der, devastation, murder, and rape. The British troops short- ly after retreated to their ships, when a correspondence took place by means of flags between general Taylor, the comman- dant at Norfolk, and sir Sidney Beckwith, quarter-master-gen- eral of the British forces, on the subject of these excesses. Sir Sidney attempted to justify them on the gronnd of inhumanity in some of the American troops on Craney Island, whom he charged with having waded into the river, and shot at their un- resisting and yielding foe, who clung to the wreck of a boat ■which had been sunk by the fire of their guns. This imputa- tion was promptly repelled, and a board of officers was imme-. diately appointed to investigate the charge. From the evi* dence adduced it appeared, that in the action at Craney Island, two of the enemy's boats in front of their line were sunk by the fire of the batteries; the soldiers and sailors who were in those boats were consequently afloat, and in danger of drown-" ing, and being in front of the boats that were uninjured, guns were necessarily fired in the direction of the men in the water, but with no intention whatever to do them further harm; but, on the contrary, orders were given to prevent this, by ceasing to fire grape, and only to fire round shot; it also was substan- tiated, that one of the enemy, who had apparently surrendered, advanced towards the shore, about one hundred yards, when he suddenly turned to his right and endeavoured to make his escape to a body of the enemy who had landed above the island, and who were then in view; then, and not till then, was he fired upon to bring him back, which had the desired effect, and he was taken unhurt to the island. It further appeared, that the American troops exerted themselves in acts of hospi- tality and kindness to the unresisting and yielding foe. But even if this charge had been founded on fact, it could Kot have justified the measures adopted by the British. The MlhTaKY OF HIE WAR, 93 tucis should surely have been first clearly ascertained and re- dress demanded, before any retaliation was resorted to; espe- cially a retaliation so extravagant in its measure, applying not to the perpetrators of the all^.^gtd offence, nor to their com- rades but to the unresisting, innocent, and helpless. During the remainder of the summer, hostile demonstrations >vere made by the British squadron in various points on the waters of the Chesapeake, particularly at Washington, Anna- polis, and Baltimore, in which, if the aim of the enemy was merely to harrass, they were certainly eminently successful. A part of the Chesapeake squadron, under admiral Cockburn, likewise appeared off Ocracock bar. North Carolina, where their barges destroyed two privateers, and landed a number of men at Portsmouth and Ocracock, who conimitted a number of wanton depredations. The British squadron off New York confined themselves to keepmg up a strict blockade. The American frigates United States and Macedonian, and the sloop of war Hornet, sailed from New York on a cruize in the beginning of May. Fmd- ing, however, that a much superior force 'lay off the Hook, they j5ut back, and on the 25th passed through HcU-gate, with tiie intention of putting to sea through the sound. This inten- tion was frustrated by the superior force of the enemy in that quarter, by which they were several times driven back, and on the first of June they were chased into New London bv two 74's and a frigate, which immediatelyanchorcd off tliat place aticl m a few days were joined by the force that liad been Block-' admg off the Hook. As the movements of the Biitish indicat- ed an intention of attacking New London, prompt measures were taken for its defence. Six hundred militia were calkd out, and to insure the safety of his squadron, commodore De- catur landed a number of his guns; which were mounted in a battery, and the vessels, thus lightened, proceeded up the riv- er; where they were secure from any attempt of the lur-er ves- sels ot the enemy. New London is situated on the river Thames, about 7 miles iiom Long Island sound, and can be approached bv ships of any draught of water. The channel, however, is narrow, and completely commanded by the surrounding heig!.ts, whi-h v/ere so strongly fortified, ?s to deter the souadron from anv hostile attempt. They contented themselves, therefore, with keeping up -a blockade, and making a few predatory excur- sions on Long Island and the neighbouring continent. An act was passed by congress in the winter of 1812— 13, fo encourage the destruction of the enemy's blockading vessids. 94 HISTORY OF THE WAR. hy a bounty of half the value of the vessel destroyed, if effect- ed by any other means than by the armed or commissioned vessels of the United States, in consequence of which several abortive attempts were made. The two most remarkable were those agamiit the Ramilies, off New London, and against the Plantagcnet, off cape Henry, at the mouth of the Chesapeake bay. The atte7r.pt on the Ramilies was made on the 25th of June. The s'thooner Eagle was loaded at New York with a number of flour barrels filled with gun-powder, in one of which was fixed a gun-lock, with a string tp the trigger made fast to the bottom of the vessel. Over these were placed a few barrels of damaged flour. Thus prepared, she threw herself in the way of the boats of the blockading squadron off New London, and on their coming up to take possession of her, the crew took to their boats, and made their escape. It was expected tl^,at the schooner would be taken along side of the Ramilies to unload; but the wind and tide being against them, and night coming on, it was determined to unload as much of the flour in the boats as could conveniently be done. When they came to the barrel of powder in which the gun-lock was placed, and i.ookcd the tackle to hoist it on deck, it sprung the trigger, and blew up the schooner and all on board and around her, and in a few seconds not a vestige of them was to be seen. The attempt on the Plantagenet was made in the montb of July, by means of a torpedo. On the night of the 18th, Mr. Mix, of the United Slates navy, accompanied by two persons who volunteered for the purpose, proceeded from Norfolk down to the Plantagenet, in a large open boat, and from pre- vious observations found no difficuity in ascertaining her posi- tion. When Mix had got to within 40 fathom of her, he drop- ped the torpedo over, in the very instant of doing which he was hailed by one of the enemy's guard boats. The machine was speedily taken into the boat again, and he made his way off in safety. On the night of the 19th he made another at- tempt, and w:^ again discovered ere he could accomplish his purpose. On the night of the 20th he succeeded in getting within 15 yards of the ship's bow, and directly under her jib- boom. There he continued making his preparations for 15 minutes, when a centinel from the forecastle hailed ^boat ahoyl' and he had once more to decamp. The centinel not being an- swered, fired his musket, which was followed by a rapid dis- charge of small arms. Blue lights were made to find out the !)oat, but failed; they then threw rockets in different directions, vhich illuminated the water for a considerable width as far as HISTORY OF THE WAR. they were thrown, and succeeded hi discovering the position of the nocturnal visitor; when the ship commenced a rapid fiie of heavy guns, slipped her cables, and made some sail, while her boats were despatched in pursuit. The daring intruders. however, escaped unhurt. The visit was repeated on the nights of the 2 1st, 22d, and 23d, .without success, as the ship, having taken the alarm, changed her position every night. On the night of the 24th, however, Mr. Mix succeeded in findiiri^ her out, and having taken his position within 100 yards distance in a direction with her larboard bow, he dropped the fatal ma- chine into the water just as the centinel was crying aWs ni'elL It was swept along with the tide, and would have completely effected its errand, it is said, had it not exploded a few seconds too soon. The scene was awfully sublime. It was like the concussion of an earthquake, attended with a sound louder and more terrific then the heaviest peal of thunder. A pyramid of water 50 feet in circumference was thrown up to the height of 30 or 40 feet; its appearance was a vivid red, tinged at the sides with a beautiful purple. On ascending to its greatest height, it burst at the top with a tremendous explosion, and fell in torrents on the deck of the ship, which rolled into the yawning chasm below, and had nearly upset. Impervious darkness again prevailed. The light occasioned by the ex- plosion, though fleeting, enabled Mr. Mix and his companions to discover that the forechannel of the ship was blown off, and a boat which lay alongside with several men in her, was thrown up in the dreadful convulsion of the waters. Terrible, indeed, must have been the panic of the ship's crew, from the noise and confusion which appeared to our adventurers to prevail on board; and they are certain that nearly the whole ships's crew hastily betook themselves to the boats. The following minute and interesting account of the naval conflict on lake Erie, was written by an eye-witness. — -" Com- modore Perry arrived at Erie in June, with five small vessels, from Black Rock. The Queen Charlotte and Ladyprevosl, were cruising off Long Point to intercept him — he passed them in the night unperceived. The Lawrence and Niagara were then on the stocks — every exertion was made to expedite their building and equipment, and early in August they were i-eady to sail. But it was necessary to pass tlie bar at th.e entrance of the harbour, over which there was but six feet water, and the brigs drew nine. The British fleet appeared off the har- bour, for the purpose of preventing ours from going to lake!— The means employed by our officers to take the brigs over the bar, were ingenious and deserve mention. Two large scows, 96 HISTORY OF THE WAR. fifty feet long, ten feet wide, and eight feet deep, were prepar- ed — they were first filled with water and then floated along side one of the vessels in a parallel direction; they were then secured by means of large pieces of hewn timber placed athwart ship, with both ends projecting from the port holes across the scows; the space between the timbers and the boat, being secured by other pieces prupcrly arranged; the water was then bailed from the scows, thereby giving them an aston- ishing lifting power. It was thus that the bar was passed, be- fore the enemy had taken the proper steps to oppose it. One obstacle was surmounted, but the fleet was not in a condition to seek the enemy at Maiden. There was not at this time more than half sailors enough to man the fleet. However, a number of Pennsylvania militia having volunteered their ser- vices, the commodore made a short cruize off* Long Point, more perhaps, for the purpose of exercising his men than seeking an enemy. " About the last of August commodore Perry left Erie, to co-operate with general Harrison in the reduction of Maiden. He anchored off the mouth of Sandusky river, and had an in- terview with general Harrison, who furnished him with about seventy volunteers, principally Kentuckians, to serve as ma- rines on board the fleet. Captain Dobbin, in the Ohio, was or- dered to return to Erie for provisions. The Amelia had been left there for w^ant of men to man her. Exclusive of these he had nine sail, mounting in ail fifty-four guns. The British fleet at Maiden, covisisted of six sail, and mounted sixty-six guns. *' Commodore Perry appeared before Maiden, offered battle, reconnoitered the enemy and retired to Put-in-Bay, thirty-five rniles distant from his antagonist. Both parties remained a few days inactive; but their repose was that of the lion. <* On the morning of the 10th of September at sunrise, the enemy were discovered bearing down from Maiden for the evident purpose of attacking our squadron, tlien at anchor in Put-in-Bay. Not a moment was to be lost. Perry's squ^ron immediately got under way, and stood out to meet the British fleet, which at this time had the weather gage. At 40 A. M. the wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. which brought our squad- ron to windward. The wind was light — the day beautiful — not a cloud obscured the horizon. The line was formed at 11, and commodore Perry caused an elegant flag, which he had privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast-head of the Law- rence; on this flag was painted, in characters legible to the whole fleet, the dying words of the immortal Lawrence: — '' Don't give \jv the ship." Its effect is not to be describ- HISTORY OF THE WAll. 9T ed — every heart was electrified. The crews cheered — the ex- hilarathig can was passed. Both fleets appeared eager for the conflict, on the result of which so much depended. At !5 nun- utes before 12, the Detroit, the head-most ship of the enemy, opened upon the I^awrence, which for ten minutes, was obU;]j- ed to sustain a well directed and heavy fire from tlie enemy's two large ships, without being able to return it with carrot h ades, at five minutes before twelve the Lawrence opened upon the enemy — the other vessels were ordered to support her, but the wind was at this time too light to enable them to come up. Every brace and bowline of the Lawrence being soon shot away, she became unmanageable, and in this situation sus- tained the action upwards of two hours, within caiiistcr dis- tance, until every gun was rendered useless, and but a small part of her crew left unhurt upon deck. " At half past two the wind increased and enabled the Nia- gara to come into close action — the gun-boats took a nearer po- sition. Commodore Perry left his ship in charge of Lt. Yar- nel, and went on board the,Niagara. Just as he reached tha<: vessel, the flag of the Lawrence came down; the crisis had ar- rived. Captain Elliot at this moment anticipated the wishes of the commodore, by volunteering his services to bring the schooners into close action. " At forty-five minutes past two the signal was made for close action. The Niagara being very little injured, and her crew tresh,the commodore determined to pass through the enemy's line; he accordingly bore up and passed ahead of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, pouring a terrible raking fire into them from the starboard guns, and on the Chippeway and Little Belt, from the larboard side, at half pistol shot dis- tance. The small vessels at this time having got within grap^ and canister distance, kept up a well directed'^and destructive fire. The action now raged with the greatest fury — the Queen Charlotte, having lost her commander and severalof licr princi- pal officers, in a moment of confusion got foul of the Detroit; in this situation the enemy in their turn had to sustain a tremen- dous fire without the power of returning it with much effect; the carnage was horrible— the flags of the Detroit, Queen Charlot- te and Lady Prevost, were struck in rapid succession. The' brig Hunter, and schooner Chippewa, were soon compelled to fol- low the example. The Little Belt attempted to escape to Mai- den, but she was pursued by two of the gun-boats and surren dered about three miles distant from the scene of action. "The writer of this account, in com.pany with five otherd HISTORY OF THE WAB. direction in which the enemy appeared to have retired from Peoria. The villages, being found deserted, were destroyed, and the troops returned to Peoria, where they remained till the garrison was put in a state of defence. Two detachments were then sent in pursuit of the enemy, one of which ascended the Illinois above the mouth of the Vermillion river to the Rapids, and within 17 miles of Chicago, on lake Michigan. The other penetrated the country northwardly to within about 45 miles of Rock river. The latter discovered several encamp- ments, which appeared to have been deserted about the time of the army*s arrival at Peoria, but neither of them were able to come up with the enemy. The mounted troops remained at Peoria from the 2d to the 15th of October, during which time they were actively engaged together with the United States Infantry, in erecting Fort Clarke, which stands at the lower end of the Peoria lake, completely commanding the Illinois river. This fort is one of the strongest in the western country, and highly important to the safety of the Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri territories. The mounted troops moved from Peoria for the settlements, on the 15th, leaving the regulars to garrison the fort. They pursued generally a south course till the 21st, when they ar- rived at Camp Russell, where the mounted militia were dis- charged, and the rangers sent across the country to Vincennes on the Wabash, where they safely arrived shortly after. After the capture of Boerstler's detachment, the army at Fort George remained inactive, with the exception of a few trifling skirmishes and attacks on out-posts, for the remainder of the summer. Two circumstances are supposed to have caused this inactivity. The first was the constant indisposi- tion of general Dearborn, which prevented him from taking Any active part, and which contmued till the 15th of July, when he received orders to retire from the command of the army, until his health should be re-established, and until further or- ders, the command devolving on brigadier-general Boyd. But the principal cause of the inactivity of this army is presumed to have ^been, the danger and indeed impracticability of under- taking great military movements before Chauncey had ob- tained the complete command of Lake Ontario. Before this was achieved the army would always be liable to be surround- ed, and to have its supplies cut off, and could not expect to be successful even with a force considerably superior to that of the enemy. The disaster at Detroit had taught a salutary les- ion on this subject. Every exertion was accordingly made by commodore Chaun- HISTORY OF THE WAR. 107 tey for the attainment of this important object. After the capture of Fort George, however, commodore sir James Yeo, who commanded the British squadron, having added consi- derably to his force both of vessels and sailors, obliged Chaun- cey to remain in port until the new vessel the General Pike could be got ready, which was not completed until the middle of July. Before we enter upon the trial of skill which now ensued between Chauncey and Yeo, it may not be improper to lake a view of his previous operations. 2 Commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour on the 6th of October, 1812, as commander of the United States forces on the lakes, at which time the only American vessel on these waters was the brig Oneida of 18 guns. He imme- diately purchased six merchant vessels, schooners, which were fitted out as gun boats. His whole squadron mounted 40 guns of different calibres, with 450 men, including marines. The British force on Lake Ontario consisted at this time of th^e ship Royal George, of 26 guns and 260 men, ship Etirl Moira, 18 guns and 200 men, and the schooners Prince Regent, 18 guns and 250 men, Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns and 80 men, Torento, 14 guns and 80 men. Governor Simcoe, 12 guns and 70 men, and Seneca, 4 guns and 40 men, making a grand total of 108 guns and 890 men. Chauncey's squadron, especially the schooners, were poor vessels and dull sailers, but his men were much superior, a great part of the enemy's sailors at this time being Canadians. On the 8th of November Chauncey sailed in the Oneida with his six schooners, in pursuit of the enemy, and on the same day fell in with the Royal George, which he chased into the bay of Quanti, where he lost sight of her in the night. Next morning he again discovered her in Kingston channel, and immediately gave chase, and fallowed her into the harbour of Kingston, where he engaged her and the batteries for an hour and three quarters. Chauncey had made up his mind to board her, notwithstanding she was protected by the batteries; but the wind bio whig directly in, the pilots refused to take charge of the vessels, and it was therefore deemed imprudent to make the attempt at this time. He accordingly hauled off and beat up under a heavy fire from the enemy to Four-mile point, where the squadron anchored. During the night it blew heavy, with squalls from the westward, and there being every appearance of a gale of wind, the pilot became alarmed, and Chauncey thought it most prudent to get into a place of more safety, and therefore reluctantly deferred renewing the attack until a more favourable opportunity. 108 HISTORY OF THE WAR. The sigr.al was made to weigh at 7 next morning, and the squadron beat out of a very narrow channel, under a heavy press of sail, to the open lake. At 10 they fell in with the GoveiTjor Simcoe, which escaped into Kingston harbour by running over a reef of rocks, under a heavy fire from three of the schooners, during which all her people ran below. It now con ing on to blow very heavy, Chauncey bore up for Sackett*s Harbour, and on his way thither captured two schooners one of which was burnt, after taking out her sails and rigging. The Oneida, in this affair, had one man killed, and three slightly wounded, and a few shot through her sails. The schooners lost no men by the enemy's fire and received but little injury in their hulls and sails. One of their guns, how- ever, burst early in the action, which wounded her commander badly, and a midshipman and three men slightly. The Royal George received considerable injury in her hull aLd in men, as the gun vessels, with their long thirty-two pounders, were seen to strike her almost every shot, and it was observed that she was reinforced with men three different times during the action. On the 1 2th, Chauncey learnt that the Earl Moira was off the False Ducks, aad immediately put off in a snow storm, in the hope of cutting her off from Kingston. In this he was fiisappointed, as she escaped into the harbour. A vessel un- der her convoy, however, was captured, in which was captain Brock, brother to the general. Chauncey now blockaded Kii^gston until the 7th of December, when he returned to Sackett's Harbour, being no longer able to keep the lake on recount of the ice. During the winter the ship Madison, of i;4 guns, was lauriched and fitted out. The capture of York and Fort George have already been voticed in pages 78 and 80 ^f this volume. After these events r.othing of importance occurred until the end of July, Chaun- cey being unable to keep the lake, owing to several new ves- sels being fitted out by the British, and the arrival of sir James Yeo, with a large body of seausen, to take command of th§^ British squadron on Lake Ontario. It may be proper to men^,; lion, however, that the brig Duke of Gloucester was captured at York; and on the 18th of June lieutenant Chauncey, in the uew schooner Lady of the Lake, captured the schooner Lady Murray, laden with provisions and ammunition, and sixteen officers and privates, besides the seamen. About the middle of July, the General Pike being ready to '^:nl, which brought the two squadrons nearly to a state of ; oualiiv, Chauncev sailed from Sackett's Harbour, and stretch- HISTORY OF THE WAR. ] 09 ing over for the enemy's shore, thence stood up the lake. He arrived off Niagara on the 27th. Here he was informed by- general Boyd, that the enemy had a considerable deposit of provisions and stores at Burlington Bay, which he determined to attempt to destroy, and for that purpose embarked a small number of regulars. At six o'clock on the morning of the 28th, the fleet proceeded for the head of the lake, but owing to light winds and calms, did not arrive there before the even- ing of the 29th. Two parties were immediately sent on shore, who surprised and took some of the inhabitants, from whom it was learned, that the enemy had received considerable rein- forcements, and that his force in regulars was from six to eight hundred men. The troops, marines, and a few sailors were, however, landed next morning, but on reconnoitering the enemy's position, he was found posted on a peninsula of very high ground, strongly entrenched, and his camp defended by about eight pieces of cannon. In this situation it was not thought advisable to attack him with a force scarcely half his number, and without artillery; more especially as they were deficient in boats, not having a sufHcient number to cross the bay with all the troops at the same time. They accordingly re-embarked in the course of the afternoon, and in the evening weighed and stood for York, where they arrived on the after- noon of the 31st. The schooners ran into the inner harbour, where the marines and troops were landed without opposition. Several hundred barrels of flour and provisions were found in the public storehouse, together with five pieces of cannon, eleven boats, and a quantity of shot, shells, and other stores, all of which were either destroyed or brought away. Next morning, after burning the barracks and public storehouses, the men were re-embarked, and tfte fleet sailed for Niagara, where it arrived oa the 3d of August. At day light of the 7th, the enemy's fleet being discovered to windward, distant about five or six miles, Chauncey weighed and stood towards them. The whole of this and the next day was spent by the two squadrons in manoeuvering to gain a favourable position, in which Chauncey was much baffled by the dull sailing of his schooners, two of which were lost in a squall in the night, and every soul on board perished except sixteen. In the evening of the 8th, it being very squally, with the appearance of its continuing so during the night, Chauncey ran in towards Niagara, and anchored outside of the bar. The following morning (August 9th), Chauncey again weigh- ed and stood towards the enemy, when a trial of nautical K 2 1 10 HISTORY OF THE WAll. skill once more commenced between the two conmiandeis, each entertainirg too respectful an opinion of the other's force to come to an engagement without having the advantage of the wind. In the course of the day the w'ind frequently veered, which instantly changed the characters of the pursuers and the pursued. At length, towards midnight, Yeo, whose ves- sels sailed much belter in squadron than those of Chauncey, succeeded in cutting off two of the American heavy-sailing schooners, which, added to Chauncey's loss in the squall, gave Yeo a considerable superiority of force over his opponent. — (Chauncey, therefore, ordered two of his dullest sailing vessels to run into Niagara, and stood with the rest of his squadron towards Sackett's Harbour, where he arrived on the 13th. Having victualled his squadron, which was reinforced with new schooner, Chauncey shortly after sailed on a cruise, and on the 7th of September, at day-light, while lying in Niagara river, discovered the enemy's fleet close in with the shore. — The signal was instantly made to weigh, and the fleet stood out of the river after him. Yeo immediately made all sail to the northward, and Chauncey pursued for four days, but was prevented from closing with him by the heavy sailing of his schooners. On the fourth day while off Genesee river, Chaun- cey was favoured with a breeze, while Yeo lay becalmed until his opponent got within about three quarters of a mile of him, when he took the breeze. The squadrons now had a running fight for three hours and a half, when the British go', out of gun-shot by their superior sailing. The next morning Yeo ran into Amherst bay, having been chased for five days with- out intermission. Amherst bay was so little known to the American pilots, and said to be so full of shoals, that they were not willing to take in the fleet; Chauncey, therefore, sta- lioned his vessels off Duck Island, with the intention of block- ading the enemy, and preventing them from getting out upon , Xhe lake. In the running fight which took place on the 11th, the Brit- ish sustained considerable injury both in men and vessels. On hoard the American fleet not a man was hurt, and the vessels sufi"ered no injury of any importatice. Chauncey continued his blockade until the 17th of Septem- ber, when, the wind blowing heavy from the westward, and the enemy having run into Kingston, he left his station for Sack- ett's Harbour, where he arrived the same night. Next morn- ing at day light he again sailed, and on the 19th saw the ene- my's fleet near the False ducks, but took no notice of him, as he wished him to follow up the lake. The squadron arrived in Niagara river on the 24th. HISTOUy OF THE WAR. I 1 i On the 26th, it was reported to Chauncey that the enemy's fieet was m York, when he immediately despatched the Lady of the Lake to ascertain the fact. She returned in the evening with the information that the enemy was in York bay. The squadron immediately weighed anchor, but, owing to a strong head wind, was not able to get out of the river till the evening of the 27th. Owing to the extreme darkness of the night a part of the squadron got separated, and did not join till next a^morning at eight, when the General Pike, Madison, and Sylph ...each took a schooner in tow, and made all sail for York, and soon after discovering the enemy's fleet under way in York bay, the squadron shaped their course for them, and prepared for action. Yeo, perceiving that Chauncey intended to engage him in his position, tacked and stood out of the bay with the wind at east. Chauncey formed the line and ran down for his centre, and when he approached within about three miles of him, Yeo made all sail to the southward. Chauncey's squadron then wore in succession, and stood on the same tack with him, edg- ing down gradually in order to close; and about twelve o'clock, Yeo, finding he must either risk an action, or suffer his two rear vessels to be cut off, tacked his squadron in succession, )eginning at the van, hoisted his colours, and commenced a well-directed fire at the Pike,. for the purpose of covering his rear, and attacking the rear of his opponent as he passed to leeward. Chauncey perceived his intention, and therefore, as soon as the Wolfe, the enemy's leading ship, passed the cen- tre, and got abeam of the American squadron, he bore up in succession, preserving the line, for the centre of the British squadron. This manoeuvre of Chauncey's not only covered his rear, but threw the enemy into confusion, and caused him immediately to bear away. Chtiuncey had nov/, however, clos- ed so near as to make his guns to bear with effect, and in twen- ty minutes the main and mizen topmast and main yard of the Wolfe were shot away. Yeo immediately put before the wind, and set ai! sail upon his fore-mast; Chauncey made the signal for the fleet to make all sail; but the enemy, by keeping dead before the v. ind, which brought all the sail upon one mast, and prevented his feeling the loss of his main and mizen topmast, was enabled to outsail most of Chauncey's squadron. The chase was continued till near three o'clock, during the whole of which the Pike, with the Asp in tow, was within point-blank shot of the enemy, and sustained the v/hole of his fire. Cap- tain Crane in the Madison, and lieutenant Brown in the Onei- da, used every exertion to close with the enemy; but the Ma- 112 HISTORY OF THE WAK. dison having a heavy schooner in tow, and the Oneida sailing very dull before tlie wind, prevented those officers from clos- ing near enough to do any execution with their carronades.—- The Governor Tompkins kept in her station, until her fore- mast was so badly "wounded as to oblige her to shorten sail. Commodore Chauncey now reluctantly relinquished the pur- suit. The reasons which induced this determination are thus stated in his letter to the secretary of the navy: " At the time I gave up the chase, the ship was making so much water, that it required all our pumps to keep her free (owing to our re- ceiving several shot so much below the water edge, that we could not plug the holes from the outside); the Governor Tompkins with her fore-mast gone; and the squadron within about six miles of the head of the lake, it blowing a gale of wind from east, and increasing, with a heavy sea on, and every appearance of the equinox. I considered that if I chased the enemy to his anchorage at the head of the lake, I should be obliged to anchor also; and although we might succeed in driv- ing him on shore, the probability was, that we should go on shore also — he amongst his friends, we amongst our enemies; and after the gale abated, if he could succeed in getting off one or two vessels out of the two fleets, it would give him as completely the command of the lake as if he had twenty ves- sels. Moreover he was covered at his anchorage by a part of his army, and several small batteries thrown up for the pur- pose. Therefore, if we could have rode out the gale, we should have been cut up by their shot from the shore: under all these circumstances, and taking into view the consequences resulting from the loss of our superiority on the lakes at this time, I without hesitation relinquished the opportunity then presenting itself of acquiring individual reputation at the ex- pense of my country." The loss sustained by the PikC; the commodore's ship, was considerable, owing to her being so long exposed to the fire of the whole of the enemy's fleet; but her most aerious loss was occasioned by the bursting of one of her guns, which kill- ed and wounded twenty-two men, and tore up the top-gallant fore-castle, which rendered the gun upon that deck useless. — Four other guns were cracked in the muzzle, which rendered their use extremely doubtful. Her main-top-gallant mast was shot away in the early part of the action, and the bow-sprit, fore and main-mast wounded, rigging and sails much cut up, and a number of shot in her hull, several of which were be- tween wind and water, and twenty-seven men killed and wounded, including those by the bursting of the gun. The HISTORY OF THE WAR. 113 Madison received a few shot, but no person was hurt on board. The Governor Tompkins lost her fore-mast, and the Oneida had her main-top-mast badly wounded. During the chase, one or two of the enemy's small vesselr, v;ere completely within Chauncey's power, but in the eager- ness of his pursuit of the larger, he passed them unnoticed, by which means they finally escaped. Meanwhile general Wilkinson had arrived at Fort George, in order to take the command of the army. About the same time the secretary of war arrived at Sackett*s Harbour, in or- der to be more conveniently situated for superintending milita- ry operations. * The wind still continuing unfavourable for an attack on the British squadron at the head of the lake, Chauncey ran off Nia- gara for the purpose of communicating with Wilkinson, to as- certain when he meant to move with the army to Sackett*s Har- bour. It was the general's opinion, that the public service would be best promoted by his watching the enemy's squad- ron, or, if possible, preventing its retarn to Kingston, while he moved with the army down the lake. Chauncey, therefore, having taken part of the troops on board his squadron, the re- mainder proceeding in boats to Sackett's Harbour, immediate- ly proceeded in quest of the enemy. The following morning, October 2d, he discovered the British squadron standing to- wards him, and made all sail in chase ; but as soon as the fleets approached so near as plainly to discern each other) Yeo put about, and stood towards the head of the lake. The chase con* tinued until the 4th, little progress being made against the current, from the lightness or variableness of the wind, the British, however, evidently gaining ground of the American squadron The morning of the 4th proving hazy, nothing could be seen of the enemy, and about noon it fell calm, when Chaun- cey ordered the Lady of the Lake to sweep up to Burlington bay, which was not far distant, to ascertain whether or not the squadron was there. In the evening she returned with infor- mation that the fleet was gone, their being nothing in the bay but two gun-boats. It was now evident that Yeo, availing himself of the dark- ness of the preceding night, had either run for Kingston, or down the lake for the purpose of intercepting the flotilla with the army. Chauncey, therefore, immediately made all sail, and shaped his course for the Ducks, with a view of intercepting him, or his prizes, if he should have made any. The wind blowing a strong gale from the northward and westward, the fleet n-iade a great run, and at three in the afternoon of the 5th, 114 niSTOUY OF THE WAR. discovered seven sail near the False Ducks, to which, presum- ing they were the enemy's fleet, they instantly gave chase. In about an hour, however, they were discovered to be sloops and schooners, and were perceived to be separating on different tacks, on which the Sylph and the Lady of the Lake were dis- patched after one part, and Chauncey in the Pike pursued the others. About five o'clock the enemy, finding that the Pike was fast gaining on him, took the people out of one of his gun vessels which sailed worse than the rest, and set her on fire. This, however, availed them but little, for, at sun-down, three of their vessels were forced to strike to the Pike, and soon af- ter the Sylph captured another. A fifth ran into the Ducks, but the Sylyh, which was left to watch her, took possession of her early next morning. A small schooner was the only ves- sel that escaped, owing to the darkness of the night. The captured vessels were found to be gun-vessels, with troops from the head of the lake, but last from York, bound to Kingston. Two of them were the Julia and Growler, which Chauncey had lost in the action of the 9th of August. The prisoners taken amounted to nearly 300, principally belonging to the De Watteville, a German regiment. From them it was learnt that the British fleet, in the action of the 28th of Sep- tember, at the head of the lake, was very much cut up in their hulls and spars, and had a great many killed and wounded^ particularly on board of the Wolfe, and Royal George. In addition to the army in Ohio, and that on the Niagara frontier, a considerable body of troops was collected in the sum- mer of 1812, upon lake Champlain, a number of vessels also were built to gain the command of those waters. In the cam- paign of that year, however, no important movement was made in this quarter. Towards the end of May, 1813, several of the British gun-boats having crossed the lines, for the purpose of capturing the craft upon the lake, two of the American armed sloops, the Eagle and Growler, sailed from Plattsburg on the 2d of June for their protection. They arrived within about a mile of the lines about dark, where they cast anchor for the night. Next morning, about day-break, they discovered three British gun-boats, to which they gave chase, but the wind be- ing south, they unfortunately ran so far into the narrow chan- nel that they found it difiicult to return, and the Eagle, not be- ing sufficiently strong for her weight of metal, became unman- ageable, and at last went down; the water, however, being shoal, the crew were saved. The Growler, unwilling to abandon her companion, continued to fight until after the Eagle sunk, when she was compelled to strike to superior force. The enemy HISTORY OF THE WAR. 115 had five gun-boats in the action, besides a considerable force in musquetry on both sides of the channel, which was so nar- row as to place the sloops within their reach from both shores. An official account of this affair has not been published, but it is stated, on the authority of the enemy, that they had two kill- ed, the Americans only one, but a considerable number of the latter were wounded. The British afterwards succeeded in raising the Eagle. The loss of the sloops giving the British the superiority on the lake, on thQ 30th of July a considerable force crossed the lines in forty-four barges, protected by the Growler and Eagle, three row-gallies, and a gun-boat, under the command of colo- nel Murray. The following day they appeared off Plattsburg, and a flag of truce was sent into the town to demand its surren- der, with the assurance, that if no resistance was made, private property should be respected. There being no troops in the place, of course there was no resistance, and the enemy landed and burnt the public buildings, consisting of a blockhouse, barracks, arsenal, Sec. when they again embarked. On the 2d of August the enemy appeared off Burlington, on the other side of the lake, where the American array was sta- tioned under general Hampton, and opened their fire from two sloops and a galley, which was returned from a battery in front of the town, the fire from which soon compelled them to make off. Several gun-boats and sloops lay under the battery, but were unable to pursue the enemy, having suffered severely in a gale a few days previous. In the month of October, Hampton's army crossed the lake, and proceeded towards the Canada lines, which they crossed about the 20th or 21st. The army moved in two divisions, one on each side of the Chateaugay river, and on two different days drove in the British pickets, one of which they succeeded in capturing. Every precaution had been taken by the enemy to intercept the progress of the army. The roads were filled v/ith trees, which they had previously felled in every direction; the bridges were destroyed, and the houses burnt or pulled down. Notwithstanding these impediments, however, they continued slowly to advance till the 26th, when the advanced guard was attacked on both sides of the river by a body of regulars, vol- tigeurs and Indians, posted in strong positions in a wood, flank- ed by the river and impassible swamps. The attack was seve- ral times renewed and the enemy always driven behind their works. On the 27th one of the divisions forded the river, and the whole army returned within the American lines to Four Corners. The British claimed great merit from the splendid 116 HISTORY OF THE WAR. victory, as they call it, which they assert was achieved by a force of only 300 men, against Hampton's whole army, which consisted of 3000 or 3500. From their own statement, how- ever, it would appear that their force was much larger than they represent it. They state it to have consisted of — " Captains Levesque and Debartzch, with their flank com- panies of the 5th battalion incorporated militia, together with about 200 of the Beauharnois division.'' " Lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry, with his voltigeurs, and captain Ferguson's light company of the Canadian regiment." Besides these, are mentioned, in the course of the action — " A lar^e body of Indians under captain Lamothe." " Lieutenant-colonel M'Donnell, of the Glengary light m^- fantry, with a part of his light brigade." "* These forces do not include the reinforcements which are stated to have arrived the following day. And yet we are gravely told, that, « though it may appear incredible, the whole force engaged on our side did not exceed 300 men."* But even allowing their forces to be as small as here repr^ sented, it by no means follows, either that a victory was gained, or that Hampton's measures were baffled. It does not appear that it was the intention of the American general to push on by this route to Montreal, for the reduction of which his small force was utterly incompetent, independent of the natural im- pediments which this part of the country presented to an in- vading army. There is no reason to doubt, indeed, that this movement was merely intended as a demonstration, to divert and distract the attention of the enemy from the movements on the St. Lawrence, and this end being completely attained, it was not the general's intention to risk the loss of any part, however small, of his army, by an attempt to force a position so strong as the British represent this to have been. General Wilkinson having transported his army in safety from Fort George to Sackett's Harbour, in the beginning of October, hi a few days they were again moved to Grenadier Island, with the intention of immediately proceeding down the St. Lawrence against Montreal. Considerable delay, however, took place; owing to the uncommon severity of the weather, and it was not until the 3d of November that he was enabled to move. On the evening of the 6th he reached Ogdensburg, * The statement here alluded to is not the official account. It is a detailed account^ afi/mrentUj ivritten by an officer who was /ire sent at the affair. HIbTOUY OF THE WAU- 117 whence he m rote to general Hampton at Four corners (where he had established his head-quarters after his return from Ca- nada,) ordering him to form a junction with him on the St. Lawrence, and recommending St. Regis as the most suitable place, where he expected to be on the 9th. ^' On the subject of provisions," continues Wilkinson, " I wish I could give a favourable information; our whole stock of bread may be com- puted at about fifteen days, and our meat at twenty. On speak- ing on this subject to the secretary of war, he informed me am- ple magazines were laid up on lake Champlain, and therefore I must request of you to order forward two or three month's supply by the safest route, in a direction to the proposed scene of action. I have submitted the state of provisions to my gene- ral officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent the progress of the expedition; and they also agree in opinion, if you are not in force to face the enemy, you should meet us at St. Regis or its vicinity." A short distance above Ogdensburg, on the opposite side of ihe St. Lawrence, stands Prescot, a fortified post commanding the river. The lateness of the season not admitting of delay, Wilkinson determined to pass it in the night, in place of stop- ping to reduce it. This was effected on the night of the 6tl], without other loss than two privates killed and three wounded. In the course of the 8th the cavalry was crossed from the American to the Canada shore, and a detachment of the infan- try was landed, to prevent the enemy, who had previously lin- ed the shore with musquetry, from harrassing the boats in their passage down the river. A considerable body of the enemy from Kingston also, in concert with a heavy galley and a few gun'boats, hung on the rear of the Americans, and consider- ably retarded their progress. On the morning of the 1 0th, general Brown advanced down the river, for the purpose of clearing its banks, as a rapid, eiglit miles long, was expected to be passed iu the course of the day, in the passage of which, without this precaution, the army would be much exposed. About noon, the army was apprized by the report of artillery, that Brown was engaged some dis- tance below, and about the same time the enemy were observ- ed in their rear. Their galley and gun-boats having approach- ed the flotilla, and opened their fire, Wilkinson ordered a bat- tery of eighteen pounders to be planted, the shot from which soon compelled the vessels of the enemy to retire, together with their troops, after some firing between the advanced parties. The day was now so far spent, that the pilots did not dare to enter the rapid, and therefore the flotilla fell down abciit lv> o L i'^.S HISTORY OF THE WAR. jniles, and came to for the night. Early next morning every thing was ready to move, but it was still deemed imprudent to commit the flotilla to the rapid until the result of gen. Brown's affair should be ascertained. At half past 10, an officer arrived with information that Brown had forced the enemy to retire, and that he would reach the foot of the rapid early in the day. Orders were now given for the flotilla to sail; but at this mo- ment the enemy's gun-boats appeared and began to fire, and in- formation was received from general Boyd, that the enemy's troops were advancing in column, on which Wilkinson sent him orders to attack them. This report was soon contradicted; but their gun-boats continued to annoy the flotilla, and such a va- riety of reports of the movements and counter-movements of the troops on shore was brought to Wilkinson, as convinced him of their determination to hazard an attack, when it could be done to advantage. He therefore resolved to anticipate them; and directions were accordingly sent to general Boyd to throw the detachments under his command into three columns, to march upon the enemy, outflank them if possible, and take their artillery. The force under Boyd consisted of detachments iVom the first, third, and fourth brigades, which were formed agreeably to orders; and placed respectively under colonel Coles, general Covington, and general Swartwout. A report was now brought to Boyd from the rear guard, that a body of about 200 British and Indians had advanced into the woods that skirted his rear. General Swartwout, with the fourth brigade, was immediately ordered to dislodge them; general Covington, ■.v the enemy to blow her up. Tlie boats employed in this en- HISTORY OF THE WAR. 143 terprize were discovered by the American guard boats in the bay and were forced to fly, after throwing their kegs of pow- der overboard. Commodore Yeo pursued a similar policy to that which gov- erned him the preceding summer. As long as he was mani- festly superior in force to Chauncey, his fleet ruled the lake; but nothing could induce him to hazard an engagement, when the force of his rival was nearly equal to his. During that part of the summer, when this was the case, he lay snug in Kingston harbour. This is by no means said in disparagement of the British commander; for every circumstance shows t'lr.t this was tke wisest policy; and perhaps the only one v/hich could have saved Upper Canada. On the 5th of IVIay the British naval force under Sir James Lucas Yeo, consisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a number of gun and other boats, appeared off' the village of Os- wego, having on board seven companies of infantry, a detach- n-^ent of artillery, and a battalion of marines, under the com- mand of lieutenant-general Drummond. This post being but occasionally, and not recently occupied by regular troops, was in a bad state of defence. It was garrisoned by about 300 re- gulars, under lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, who had only arriv- ed a few days before. Lieutenant Woolsey of the navy, witti a small body of seamen, was also at the village, and as soon as the fleet appeared, the neighbouring militia were called in. — About 1 o'clock the fleet approached, and 15 boats, large and crowded with troops, at a given signal moved slowly to the shore. These were preceded by gun-boats, sent to rake the woods and cover the landing, while the larger vessels opened a fire upon the fort. As soon as the debarking bouts got within range of the shot from the shore batteries, a very successful fire opened upon them, which twice compelled them to retire. They at length returned to the ships, and the whole stood off" from the shore for better anchorage. Several boats which had been deserted by the enemy were taken up in the evening, one of which was 60 feet long, carried thirly-six oars and three sails, and could accommodate 150 men. She had received a ball through her bow, and was nearly filled with water. At day-break next morning the fleet appeared bearing up under easy sail, and about noon the frigates took a position di- 'rectly against the fort and batteries, and opened a heavy fire, which was kept up for three hours, while the brigs, schooners, and gun-boats covered by their fire the debarkation of the troops. The Americans were now forced to retreat into the rear of the fort, where two companies met the advancing co- 144 HISTORY OF THE WAR. jiimns of the enemy, while the others engaged their flank. — Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, and some seamen, joiaed in the attack, and fought with their characteristic bravery. After a short action, Mitchell again commenced a retreat, which was effected in good order, destroying the bridges in his rear. Indeed a retreat had become necessary for the protection of the stores at the fails, 13 miles in the rear of the fort, which were supposed to form the principal object of the expedition. Early in the morning of the 7th, the British evacuated the place, and retired to their shipping, after destroying the fort and those public stores which they could not carry away. — These stores were not important, the most valuable having been deposited at the falls. The American official account states their loss at 6 killed, .38 wounded, and 25 missing; that of the British states theirs at 19 killed and 75 wounded. Among them were several offi- cers. Mitchell states the force landed at 15 50 men, while the Americans engaged did not exceed 300, being 4 companies u( the 3d artillery under captains Boyle, Romayne, M*Intyre, and Pierce, a company of light artillery under captain Melvin, and a small detachment of sailors under lieutenant Pearce of ■ he navy. A short time after this event, the British fleet appeared near •he mouth of the Gennessee river, where about 160 volunteers were stationed, with one piece of artillery. Captain Stone, the omnianding officer, dispatched expresses for assistance to ifcreiit quarters. The following day the commodore's new '^hip came to anchor off the mouth of the river, and sent an officer on shore with a flag, demanding the surrender of the place, and promising to respect private property in case no re- sistance should be made, and all public property faithfully dis- closed and given up. General Porter arrived while the flag- was on shore, and returned for answer that the place would be defended to the last extremity. On the return of the flag, two guH'boats, with from 200 to 300 men on board, advanced to tb.e river, which is about a mile from the town and battery, and commenced a heavy cannonade, directed partly to the own, and partly to bodies of troops who had been placed in ravines near the mouth of the river, to intercept the retreat of Tuc gun-boats, in case they should enter. At the expiration of an hour and a half, during which time they threw a great number of rockets, shells, and shot of dif- ferent descriptions, from grape to 68lbs., a second flag was went from the commodore's ship, requiring, in the name of the 'onnnander of the forces, an immediate surrender, and threat- HISTORY OF THE WA.R. M5 ening that if the demand was not connplied with, he would land 1200 regular troops and 400 Indians; that if he should lose a single man, he would raze the town and destroy every vestige of property; and that it was iiis request that the women and children might be immediately removed, as he could not be accountable for the conduct of the Indians. He was told that the answer to his demand had been already explicitly given; that they were prepared to meet him^ the women and "j-children having been disposed of; and that if another flag r-^-should be sent on the subject of a surreuder, it would not be ^^rotected. The flag returned with the gun-boats to the fleer, ^i(«he whole of which came to anchor about a mile from the shore, ^where they lay until 8 o'clock on Saturday morning, and then .'left the place. On the evening of the following day, the British squadron was discovered making towards Pullneyville, another small village on the magin of lake Ontario, and information was sent to general Swift, who repaired thither in the course of the night, with 130 volunteers and militia. Next morning a flag .was sent on shore, demanding a peaceable surrender of all ii>public property, and threatening an immediate destruction of the village in case of refusal. General Swift returned for answer, that he should oppose any attempt to land, by all the means in his pov/er. Soon after the return, of the flag, how- ever, general Swift was induced, by the pressing solicitations and entreaties of the inhal:|itans of the town, to permit one of its citizens to go to the en^my v/ith a flag, and ofier the surren- der of the property contained in a store-house at the water's edge, consisting ofa"bovU 100 barrels of flour considerably damaged, on condition that the commanding officer would stipulate not to take any other, nor molest the inhabitants. But before its return, the enemy sent their gun-boats with se- veral hundred men on shore, who took possession of the flour in the store, and were proceeding to further depredations when general Swift commenced a fire upon them from an ad- jacent wood, which wounded several, and became so harrassing as to induce them to re-embark. They then commenced a cannonade from the fleet upon the town, which was continued for sometime, but with no other itijury than a few shot holes through the houses. A short time after these affairs took place, two British gun- boats and five barges, some of which contained howitzer^:, manned by about 200 sailors and marines, under the command of captain Popham of the royal navy; were captured by a de- tachment of 120 riflemen and a few Oneida warrior^:> in-:!: 146 HISTORY OF THE WAR- the command of major Appling, of the first United States* rifle i'cgiment. Major Appling^ had been detached to protect the cannon and naval stores at Oswego, destined for commodore Chauncey's fleet. They were embarked on board a flotilla of boats, in charge of captain Woolsey of the navy, and had arrived safely in Sandy creek. Here they were pursued by the enemy, who was gallantly met by the riflemen, and after an action of a few minutes, beaten and taken, without the loss of a man; an In- dian and one rifleman only being wounded. The riflemen were most judiciously posted along the bank, a short distance below captain Woolsey's boats, where the creek is narrow and shoal. Most of the men having with- drawn from the boats, the enemy gave three cheers at the prospect of the rich prize before him. His joy, however, was of short duration, for at this moment the riflemen poured forth their deadly fire, which in about ten minutes terminated in his total defeat, leaving an officer and 1 3 men killed; two officers and 28 men wounded (the officers and many of the men dan- gerously); the residue, consisting of 10 officers and 133 men, taken prisoners. Major Appling speaks in the highest terms of the courage md good conduct of his officers and men. Captain Harris with his troop of dragoons, and captain Melvin with his two neld-pieces, had made a rapid march, and would in a few mi- *iutes have been ready to participate in the action, had the ene- my been able to make a stand. The captured officers and men spoke in the highest terms of commendation of major Appling and his rifle corps, to whose humane and spirited conduct they are probably indebt- ed for the preservation of their lives. The Indians were the first to reach the enemy after they submitted, and had com- jnenced executing the savage rule of warfare, sanctioned by Anglo-Indian example at the river R?isin, Lewistown, Tusca- rora, &c. of murdering their prisoners, when the major and bis men happily arrived, and succeeded, by a prompt and de- termined course, though not without violence, in terminating the tragic scene.* * An Ivdian chief is said to have given vent to his feelings on this occa&io7i in language similar to the folloiving: — " When British come to Buffaloe^ they kill ivhite man^ they kill Indian^ they kill ivoman, they burn all houses — when British come here^ ijQU no let Indian kill him — yon give him cat — this no goodJ* HISTORY OF THE AVAK. ) 4,7 No further events took place on this lake during the war worth recording, excepting the capture and destruction of a gun-boat at the head of the St. Lawrence, and the burning of a vessel of war on the stocks at Presque Isle. Both these ex- ploits were performed by lieutenant Gregory. Nothing of importance took place on lake Erie. The only hostile event that occured was the destruction of some mills employed in manufacturing flour for the British army, at Long Point, by colonel Campbell, with a detachment of 500 or 600 men from Erie. The mills and some houses occupied as stores Avere burned. About 50 dragoons stationed there as a guard made their escape, when the party returned without losing a man. This event, which was certainly not strictly justified by the laws of v/ar, though sanctioned by the practice of the ene- my, was an unauthourised act on the part of colonel Campbell. A court of enquiry was held on his conduct, whose opinion was unanimously pronounced as follows: " That, considering the important supplies of bread-stuffs; which from the evidence it appears the enemy's forces derived from the flour-manufacturing mills at and near to Dover, colo- nel Campbell was warranted in destroying those mills, accord- ing to the laws and usages of war, and for a like reason, the court think him justified in burning the distilleries under the said laws and usages. The saw-mills and carding machine, from their contiguity to the other mills, were, as the court conceives, necessarily involved in one and the same burning. " In respect to the burning of the dwelling and other houses in the village ot Dover, the court are fully of opinion that colo- nel Campbell has erred; that he can derive no justification from the fact, that the owners of these houses were actively opposed to the American interests in the present war, or from the other facts, that some of them were at the conflagration of Buffaloe. In their partizan services it does not appear to the court, that the inhabitants of Dover have done more than their proper allegiance required of them; and the destruction af Buffaloe, by a lieutenant-general of the enemy's regular forces was emphatically the wrong of the British government itself, rendered such by its subsequent adoption of the measure, and ought not to be ascribed to a few Canadians who were present at the time. " Acts of retaliation, on the part of a nation proud of its rights, and conscious of the power of enforcing them, should, in the opinion of the court, be reluctantly resorted to, and on- ly by instructions from the highest in authority. That no such instructions were given in the case under cor.sideration, is not i4S HISTORY OF THE WAR, merely inferred from the absence of evidence to that effect, but is candidly admitted by colonel Campbell in his official re- port (which is in evidence), wherein he expressly states — ' This expedition was undertaken by me without orders, and upon my own responsibility.* " The court, in delivering the above opinion unfavourable to colonel Campbell, are fully aware of the strong incentives to a just indignation which must have been present to his mind at the time of this visit to Dover — the massacres of the Raisin and the Miami were not yet forgotten and the more recent devastation of the entire Niagara frontier, accompanied by many acts of savage barbarity, was fresh in remembrance. That these recollections should have aroused his feelings and have swayed his judgment, does not excite wonder but regret, and there is still left for admiration, his kind and amiable treat- ment of the women and children of Dover, abandoned by their natural protectors.** Meanwhile general Brown was occupied in collecting and disciplining his forces, and preparing for the invasion of Canada. On the evening of the 2d of July, general orders were issued for the embarkation of the troops by day-light next morning, when the army, consisting of two brigades, and a body of New- York and Pennsylvania volunteers and Indians, under general P. B. Porter, were landed on the opposite shore, without op- position. The first brigade, under general Scott, and the ar- tillery corps under major Hindman, landed nearly a mile be- low Fort Erie, while general Ripley, with the second brigade, made the shore about the same distance above. The fort was soon completely invested, and a battery of long eighteens being planted in a position which commanded it, the garrison, con- sisting of 137 men, including officers, surrendered prisoners of war. Several pieces of ordnance were found in the fort, and some military stores. Having placed a small garrison in Fort Erie to secure his rear, Brown miOved forward the following day to Chippewa plains, where he encamped for the night, after some skirmish- ing with the enemy. The American pickets were several times attacked on the morning of the 5th, by small parties of the British. About four in the afternoon, general Porter, with the volunteers and Indians, was ordered to advance from the rear of the Ameri- can camp, and take a circuit through the woods to the left, in hopes of getting beyond the skirmishing parties of the enemy, and cutting off their retreat, and to favour this purpose the ad- vance were ordered to fall back gradually under the enemy's HISTORY OF THE WAR. 149 iiie. In about half an hour, however, Porter's advance met the light parties in the woods, and drove them until the whole column of the British was met in order of battle. From the clouds of dust and the heavy firing, general Brown concluded that the entire force of the British was in motion, and instant- ly gave orders for general Scott to advance with his brigade and Towson's artillery, and meet them on the plain in front of the American camp. In a few minutes Scott was in close ac- tion with a superior force of British regulars. By this time Porter's volunteers having given way and fled, the left flank of Scott's brigade became much exposed. Gen- eral Ripley was accordingly ordered to advance with a part of the reserve, and skirting the woods on the left, in order to keep out of view, endeavour to gain the rear of the enemy's right flank. The greatest exertions were made to gain this position but in vain. Such was the gallantry and impetuosity of the brigade of general Scott, that its advance upon the enemy was not to be checked. Major Jessup, commanding the bat- talion on the left flank, finding himself pressed both in front and in flank, and his men falling fast around him, ordered his battalion to " support arms and advance." Amidst the most ■ destructive fire this order was promptly obeyed, and he soon gained a more secure position, and returned upon the enemy so galling a discharge, as caused them to retire. The whole line of the British now fell back, and the Ameri- can troops closely pressed upon them. As soon as the former gained the sloping ground descending towards Chippewa, tiiey broke and ran to their works, distant about a quarter of a mile, and the batteries opening on the American line, consi- derably checked the pursuit. Brown now ordered the ordnance to be brought up, with the intention of forcing the works. But on their being examined, he was induced, by the lateness of the hour, and the advice of his officers, to order the forces to retire to camp. The American official account states their loss at 60 killed, 248 wounded, and 19 missing. The British officially state tiieirs at 135 killed, 320 wounded, and 46 missing. Dispirited as was the public mind at this period, the intelli- gence of this brilliant and unexpected opening of the campaign on the Niagara could not fail of being most joyfully received. The total overthrow of the French power had a few months be- fore liberated the whole of the British forces in Europe. A considerable portion of lord Wellington's army, flushed with their late successes in Spain, had arrived in Canada, and were actual'y opposed to Brown at Chippewa, while all our maritime ) 150 HISTORY OF THE WAR. towns were threatened by Britain's victorioas armies, whose arrival was momentarily expected on the coast. When the in- telligence of the stupendous events in Europe was first receiv- ed, many consoled themselves with the idea, that the magnan- imity of Great Britain would freely grant in her prosperity, what they had insisted we never could force from her in her adversity. Sincerely taking for realities the pretexts on which our neutral rights had been infringed, they thought the ques- tion of impressment, now the almost single subject of dispute, could easily be amicably arranged, when the affairs of the world were so altered as to render it nearly impossible that Great Britain could ever again be reduced to the necessity of " fight- ing for her existence; or, at all events, as the peace in Europe had effectually removed the cause, and as the American gov- ernment declined insisting on a formal relinquishment of the practice, no difficulty would be thrown in the way of a general and complete pacification of the world. This illusion was soon dissipated. By the next advices from Europe it was learned, that the cry for vengeance upon the Americans was almost unanimous throughout the British em- pire. The president was threatened with the fate of Bonaparte, and it was said that the American peace ought to be dictated in Washington, as that of Europe had been at Paris. Even in parliament* the idea was held out that peace ought not to be thought of till America had received a signal punishment, for having dared to declare war upon them while their forces were engaged in " delivering Europe'* from its oppressor.! The commencement of the negociations for peace, which had been proposed by the British court, was suspended, and stren- uous efforts were made to send to America as commanding a force as possible. Under these circumstances, a victory gained by the raw * Sir Joseph Yorke, one 0/ the lords of the ad7niralty^ said in parliament^'' ive have Mr. Aladiscn to depose before ive ca?L lay down our arms.'* t At a dinner given to lord Hill, loho ivas on the eve of sail- ing at the head of an expedition against J^e^v- Orleans, he stated the period tuhen he should embark for America, and added, that " he had no doubt, with the means already there, together ivith those on the way, and what were promised by his prince, he should humble the Yankees, and bring the contest to a speedy and successful termination.'* Happy for his lordship he was soon after sufKTseded in the command by general Packenham. HISTORY OF THE WAR. 151 troops of America over the veterans of Wellington, superior in numbers to the victors,* upon an open plain, and upon a spot chosen by the British general, had a most beneficial ten- dency, by dispelling the dread which the prowess of the Brit- ish troops in Spain could not have failed to have produced in the minds of their opponents. This battle was to the army, what the victory of captain Hull had been to the navy; and the confidence which it thus inspired was surely most justly founded, for every man felt that the victory had been gained by superior skill and discipline; it was not the fruit of any ac- cidental mistake or confusion in the army of the enemy, or of one of those movements of temporary panic on one side, or excitement on the other, which sometimes give a victory to irregular courage over veteran and disciplined valour. After so signal a defeat, the British could not be induced to hazard another engagement. They abandoned their works at Chippewa, and burning their barracks, retired to fort Niagara and fort George, closely followed by Brown. Here he ex- pected to receive some heavy guns and reinforcements from Sackett's Harbour; but on the 23d of July he received a letter by express from general Gaines, advising him that that port was blockaded by a superior British force, and that commo- dore Chauncey was confined to his bed with a fever. Thus dis- appointed in his expectations of being enabled to reduce the forts at the mouth of the Niagara, Brown determined to dis- encumber the army of baggage, and march directly for Bur- lington Heights. To mask this intention, and to draw from Schlosser a small supply of provisions, he fell back upon Chip- pewa. About noon on the 25th, general Brown was advised by an express from Lewistown, that the British were following him, and were in considerable force in Queenstown and on its heights; that four of the enemy's fleet had arrived with rein- forcements at Niagara during the preceding night, and that a number of boats were in view, moving up the river. Short- ly after, intelligence was brought that the enemy were land- ing at Lewistown, and that the baggage and stores at Schlos- ser, and on their way thither, were in danger of immediate * The British official accounts state the American forces to have been sufierior in number. This afifiarent contradiction ?nay be reconciled by observing", that a single brigade of the American troo/is achieved the victory; the volunteers having fled before the action commenced^ while the brigade of general Rifiley had arrived on the ground, ivhen the British took she:- ter behind their works. 152 HISTORY OF THE WAR. capture. In order to recall the British from this objeci Brown determined to put the army in motion towards Queens- town, and accordingly general Scott was directed to advance with the first brigade, Towson*s artillery, and all the dragoons and mounted men, with orders to report if the enemy appear- ed, and if necessary to call for assistance. On his arrival near the falls, Scott learned that the enemy was in force directly in his front, a narrow piece of woods alone intercepting his view of them. He immediately advanced upon them, after dispatching a messenger to general Brown with this intelli- gence. The report of the cannon and small arms reached general Brown before the messenger, and orders were instantly issued for general Riply to march to the support of general Scott, with the second brigade and all the artillery, and Brown him- self repaired with all speed to the scene of action, whence he sent orders for general Porter to advance with his volunteers. On reaching the field of battle, general Brown found that Scott had passed the wood, and engaged the enemy on the Queenstown road and on the ground to the left of it, with the 9th, 11th, and 22d regiments, and Towson's artillery, the 25th having been thrown on the right to be governed by cir- cumstances. The contest was close and desperate, and the American troops, far inferior in numbers, suffered severely. Meanwhile major Jessup, who commanded the 25th regi- ment, taking advantage of a fault committed by the British commander, by leaving a road unguarded on his left, threw himself promptly into the rear of the enemy, where he was en- abled to operate with the happiest effect. The slaughter was dreadful; the enemy's line fell down the road at the third or fourth fire. The capture of general Riall, with a large es- cort of officers of rank, was part of the trophies of Jessup's intrepidity and skill; and, but for the impression of an un- founded report, under which he unfortunately remained for a few minutes, lieutenant general Drummond, the commander of the British forces, would inevitably have fallen into his hands, an event which would, in ail probability, have comple- ted the disaster of the British army. Drummond was con>- pletely in Jessup's power; but being confidently informed that the first brigade was cut in pieces, and finding himself with less than 200 men, and without any prospect of support, in the midst of an overwhelming hostile force, he thought of no- thing for the moment but to make good his retreat, and save his command. Of this temporary suspense of the advance of the American column, general Drummond availed himself HISTORY OF THE WAR. 153 to make his escape. Among the officers captured, was one of general Drummond's aids-de-camp, who had been dispatch- ed from the front line to order up the reserve, with a view to fall on Scott with the concentrated force of the whole army, and overwhelm him at a single effort. Nor would it have been possible to prevent this catastrophe, had the reserve ar- rived in time; the force with which general Scott would then have been obliged to contend being nearly quadruple that of his own. By the fortunate capture, however, of the British aid-de-camp, before the completion of the service on which he had been ordered, the enemy's reserve was not brought into action until the arrival of general Ripley's brigade, which prevented the disaster which must otherwise have ensued.* Though the second brigade pressed forward with the^great- est ardour, the battle had raged for an hour before it could ar- rive on the field, by which time it was nearly dark. The en- emy fell back on its approach. In order to disengage the ex- hausted troops of the first brigade, the fresh troops were or- dered to pass Scott's line, and display in front, a movenicnt which was immediately executed by Ripley. Meanwhile the enemy, being reconnoitered, was found to have taken a new position, and occupied a height with his artillery, supported by aline of infantry, which gave )iim great advaiitages, it being * " ^ trait in his conduct hi[^hlij honourable to colonel JesHu;! is, that his hiiinanity as a man triumjilLed over his techniccl .duty as an officer. Such ivas,for a ti?yie, his situation in (I: field, that every prisoner he took, by i/n/iedi?ig his operati-)v-- against the enemy, not only injured the cause in luhich he -tjo engaged, but endangered the safety of his ovni corfis. Ac- cording to the canons ofivar, therefore, his duty, as we believe, was, to make no prisoners, but to put to death every marl vj ho might oppose him in arms. Regardless, hoi-jcver^ of these san- guinary statutes, and listening only to the voice of mercy, h -■ gave quarter to all that surrendered to him, although con&cioi/.- they would diminish his effective force, and that he must neccsf;a- rily suffer them again to escape. This conduct vjasnoticedbv nome of the British officers, and commended as highly honourable to (he young American. Had Jessup been less humane as a ?nan, and more techiiically rigid as an officer, he might have acted, as the aid-dc-camp of gerieral Driunmond acknowledged, with morr' deadly effect against the enemy. But he knew the road to glar better. The fairest wreath in the heroes chaplet is that whic . -V e?itwined by the hand of mercy. '^ — Port Folio. O '•^^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. the key to tlie whole position. To secure the victory, it was necessary to carry lus t\rtillery and seize the height. 'For this purpose the second brigade advanced upon the Queenstown load, and the first regiment of infantry, which had arrived that day, and was attached to neither of the brigades, was formed in a line facing the enemy's on the height, with a view of drawing his fire and attracting his attention, as the second brigade advanced oil his left flank to carry his artillery. As soon as the first regiment approached its position,'colo- nel Miller was ordered to advance with the 21st regiment, and carry the artillery on the height by the bayonet. The first regiment gave way under the fire of the enemy; but Miller, undaunted by this occurrence, advanced steadily and gallantly io his object, and carried the heights and cannon in a masterly style. General Ripley followed on the right with the 23d re- giment. It had some desperate fighting, which caused it to iaultcr, hut it was promptly rallied, and brought up. The enemy being now driven from their commanding i^rour-d, the whole brigade, with the volunteers and artillery, and the first regiment, which had been rallied, were formed in line with the captured cannon, nine pieces, in the rear. Here ihey w ere soon joined by major Jessup, with the 25th, the re- giment that had acted with such effect in the rear of the ene- my's left. In this situation the American troops withstood three distinct desperate attacks of the enemy, who had rallied his broken corps, and received reinforcements. In each of them he was repulsed with great slaughter, so near being his approach, that the buttons of the men were distinctly seen through the darkness by the flash of the muskets, and many prisoners were taken at the point of the bayonet, principally by Porter's volunteers. During the second attack general Scott was ordered up, who had been held in reserve with three of his battalions, from the moment of Ripley's arrival on the rieid. During the third eflbrt of the enemy, the direction of Scott's column would have enabled him, in a few minutes, to i.ave formed line in the rear of the enemy's right, and thus have brought him between two fires. But a flank fire from a v-oncealed partof the enemy fallini^ upon the centre of Scott's command, completely frustrated this intention. His column \\as severed in two; one part passing- lothe rear, the other by ihc right flank of platoons towards Ripley's main line. This was the last efl'ort of the British to regain their position and artillery, the American troops being left in quiet posses- sion of the field. It was now nearly midnight, and geneials Brown and Scott being both severely wounded, and all the UlSTOUy OF THE WAR. Ipj Tl'oops much exhausted, the command was given to general Ripley, and he was instructed to return to camp, bringing with him the wounded and the artillery. The pieces, however, were found in so dismantled a state, and such had been the slaughter of the horses, that to remove them at that late hour was found to be impracticable. On the return of the troops to camp, general Brown sent for general Ripley, and after giving him his reasons for tlie measure, ordered him to put the troops into the best possible condition; to give to them the necessary rcfreshmeni; to take with him the piquets and camp guards, and every other de- scription of force; to put himself on the field of battle as the day dawned, and there meet and beat the enemy if he again appeared. General Ripley has been much blamed for the non-execu- tion of this order, by which the captured cannon again fell into the hands of the British. General Brown, in his official report, says, " To this order he [Ripley] made no objection, and I re- lied upon its execution. It was not executed.'* On the part of general Ripley it is stated, that his orders were, in case the enemy appeared in force, " to be governed entirely by circum- stances." His orders, therefore, were executed. At day- break the army was arranged, and the march commenced, when circumstances of the most positive nature were made ap- parent, such as must have been in view in the discretionary part of th6 order, and in the full effect of which general Riplc y commenced and effected the retreat which afterwards led him to Fort Erie. The troops, reduced to less than 1600 men, were marched on the 26th by general Ripley towards the field of battle. Motion was commenced at day-break, but difficulties incidental to the late losses prevented the advance before some time had been spent in re-organization and arrangement. The line of march being assumed, and the Chippewacrossed, gen- eral Ripley sent forward lieutenants Tappan of the 23d, and Riddle of the 15th, with their respective commands, to recon- noitre the enemy's position, strength, and movements. On examination, he was found in advance of his former position, pn an eminence, strongly reinforced; as had been asserted by prisoners taken the preceding evening; his flanks, resting on a wood on one side, and on the river on the other, defied being turned or driven in; his artillery was planted so as to sweep the road; besides these advantages, he extended a line nearly double in length to that which could be displayed by our troops. To attack with two-thirds the force of the preceding evening an enemy thus increased, was an act of madnes'i that the first J 56 HISTORY OF THE WAU. thought rejected. The army was kept in the field and in mo- tion iong enough to be assured of the strength and position^f the enemy; that information being confirmed, there remained but one course to prevent that enemy from impeding a retreat, which, had he been vigilant, he would previously have pre- vented. The army, therefore, immicdiately retrograded, and the retreat received the sanction of general Brown, previous to his crossing the Niagara.* The American official account states their loss in this battle at 171 killed, 572 wounded, and ll7 missing; the return of British prisoneis presents an aggregate of 179, including ma- jor-general Riall, and a number of other officers. — The British, state their loss to be 84 killed, 559 wounded, 193 missing; tKeir loss in prisoners they stated only at 41. Major-general Brown and brigadier-general Scott were among the wounded of the Americans, and lieutenant-general Drummond and ma- jor-general Riall among those of the British. In consequence of the wounds of generals Brown and Scott, the command devolved on general Ripley, who pursued his retreat across the Chippewa, destroying the bridges in his rear, and throwing every possible impediment in the way of the ene- my; in order to obstruct his advance. On the. 27th of July, the army reached Fort Erie. Here it was determined to make a stand, and accordingly the lines of defence and fortification were immediately marked out, and by the unremitted exertions of the army, were completed on the Sd of August, the very day of tlie arrival of the enemy before them. Early in the morning of the Sd an attempt was made to surprise Buffaloe, with the intention, it is supposed, of re-cap- t tiling general Riall, and other British prisoners there, and de- htrcying the public stores. About two in the morning, nine boat-loads of troops were landed on the American side, half a mile below Conjocta creek, on the upper bank of which, sus- pecting their intention, major Morgan had taken a position with a battalion of the first rifle regiment, consisting of 240 men. Here, during the preceding night, he had thrown up a battery of a few logs, and torn away the bridge. About four o'clock the British commenced the attack, sending a party be- fore to repair the bridge, under cover of their fire. So heavy and deadly, however, was the fire opened by the riflemen, that they were compelled to retire. They then formed in the skirt of the wood, and kept up the fight ai long shot, continually re- Port Folio. JSItmoir of major-general Ripleij, tn^TTTRf OF T^1^T U'AR. infoi'cing from the Canada shore, unlil tl'.ey had 23 boat-loads, when they attempted to outflank, by sending a hirge body up the creek to ford it. But a detachment of about 60 men beinj^ sent to dispute the passage, they were repulsed with consider- able loss. The object now appearing unattainable, the enemy commenced their retreat, having previously thrown some troops on Squaw Island, whicli enfiladed the creek, thus pre- venting their retreat from being l.arrassed. Their superior numbers enabled them to take their wounded and most of their killed off the field; though some of the latter were afterwaids found, A number of muskets and accoutrements were also collected, and some clothing that appeared to have been torn for the purpose of binding their wounds. Six British prisoners were taken, who stated their force to have consisted of from 12 to 1500 men. Although the action coiuinued for two hours and a half, the loss of the Americans was but trilling— two killed and eight wounded. The loss of the British was neve? ascertained, but it must have been quUe disproportioned to that of the Americans. On the arrival of the British before Fort Eric, they per- ceived that the opportunity was lost of carrying the American works by a coup-de-main. Driving in the pickets, therefore, they made a regular investment of the place. The following day general Gaines arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and being senior in rank assumed the command. On the 6th, the rifle corps was sent to endeavour to draw out the enemy, in order to try his strength. Their order's, were to pass through the intervening woods, to amuse the British light troops until their strong columns should get iii motion, when they should retire slowly to the plain, where a strong line was posted in readiness to receive the enemy. The riflemen accordingly met and drove the light troops into their lines, but although they kept the wood near two hours, they were not able to draw any part of the enemy's force after them. The British left eleven dead and three prisoners in the hands of the riflemen; but their los» was supposed to be much more considerable. The loss of the riflemen were five killed and three or four wounded. The main camp of the British was planted about two miles distant. In front of it they threw up a line of partial circum- vallation, extending around the American fortifications. This consisted of two lines of entrenchment, supported by block- houses; in front of these, at favourable points, batteries were erected, one of which enfiladed the American works. The American position was on the margin of lake Erie, vA the entrance of the Niagara river, on nearly a horizontal plain o ,: .iv>S IUS-TOH¥ OF THE WAH. twelve or fifteen feet above the surface of the water, possess mg few natural advantages. It had been strengthened in front by temporary parapet breast-works, entrenchment, and abbatis, with two batteries and six field pieces. The small unfinished fort, Erie, with a 24, 18, and 12 pounder, formed the north- cast, and the Douglass battery, with an 18 and 6 pounder near the edge of the lake, the south-east angle on the right. The left was defended by a redoubt battery with six field-pieces, just thrown up on a small ridge. The lear was left open to the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. The bat- tery on the left was defended by captain Towson; Fort Erie by captain Williams, with major Trimble's command of the 19th infantry; the batteries on the front by captains Biddle and Fanning; the whole of the artillery commanded by major Hindman. Parts of the 11th, 9th, and 22d infantry, were posted on the right under the command of lieutenant-colonel Aspinwall. General Ripley's brigade, consisting of the 2^st and 23d, defended the left. General Porter's brigade of New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, with the riflemen, occupied the centre. During the 13th and 1 4th, the enemy kept up a brisk can- nonade, which was sharply returned from the American batte- ries, without any considerable loss. One of their sliells lodged in a small magazine, in Fort Erie, which was almost empty. — It blew \ip with an explosion more awful in appearance than injurious in its effects, as it did not disable a man or derange a gun. A momentary cessation of the thunders of the artil- lery took place on both sides. This was followed by a loud and joyous shout by the British army? which was instantly re- turned on the part of the Americans, who, amidst the smoke of the explosion, renewed the contest by an animated roar of the heavy cannon. From the supposed loss of am.munition, and the consequent depression such an event was likely to produce, general Gaines felt persuaded that this explosion would lead the enemy to as- sault, and made his arrangements accordingly. These suspi- cions were fully verified, by an attack that was made in the night between the 14th and 15th of August. The night was dark, and the early part of it raining, but ne- vertheless one third of the troops were kept at their posts. — At half past two o'clock, the right column of the enemy ap- proached, and though enveloped in darkness, was distinctly heard on the American left, and promptly marked by the mus- tiuctry under major Wood and captain Towson. Being mount- cH at vKc nioir.cnt, Gaines repaired to the point of attack, lilSTOUi OF THK \V All I b9 where the sbcet of fire rolling from Towsou's battery, and tl»e musquetry of the left wing, enabled him to see the enemy's column of about 1500 men approuching- on that point; his ad- vance was not checked until it had approached within ten feet of the infantry. A line of loose brush, representing an abattis, only intervened; a colunui of the enemy attempted to pass round the abattis, through the water, where it was nearly breast deep. Apprehending that this point would be carried, Gaines ordered a detachment of riflemen and infantry to its support; but at this moment the enemy were repulsed. They instantly renewed the charge, and were again driven back. On the right, the fire of cannon and musquetry announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy, un- der colonels Drummond and Scott. The latter was received and repulsed by the 9th, under the command of captain Foster, and captains Boughton and Harding's companies of New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, aided by a six-pounder, judi- ciously posted by major M'Kee, chief engineer. But the centre, le an extent inflicting the most se^ rious private distress, and under circumstances that justified the suspicion, that revenge and cupidity, rather than the man- ly motives that should dictate the hostility of a high-minded foe, led to their perpetration. Although these acts of desolation invited, if they did not impose on. the government, the necessity of retaliation; yet in HISTORY OF THE WAR. 185 no instance has it been authorised.* The burning of the vil- lage of Newark, in Upper Canada, was posterior to the early outrages above enumerated. The village of Newark adjoined Fort George, and its destruction was justified by the officer who ordered it, on the ground that it became necessary in the military operations there. The act, however, was disavowed by the government. The burning which took place at Long Point was unauthorised by the government, and the conduct of the officer subjected to the investigation of a military tribu- nal. For the burning at St. David's, committed by stragglers, the officer who commanded in that quarter was dismissed with- out trial, for not preventing it. I am commanded by the president distinctly to state, con- tinued the secretary, that it as little comports with any orders which have been issued to the military and naval commanders of the United States, as it does with the established and known humanity of the American nation, to pursue a system which it appears you have adopted. This government owes it to itself, to the principles which it has ever held sacred, to disavow, as justly chargeable to it, any such wanton, cruel, and unjustifia- ble warfare. Whatever unauthorised irregularity may have been committed by any of its troops, it would have been ready, acting on these principles of sacred and eternal obligation, to disavow, and as far as might be practicable, to repair. But the government, it appears, was mistaken in attributing this general charge against the American troops in Upper Canada, to the destruction of the villages alluded to in the secretary's letter. The governor of Canada, in an address to the' provincial parliament, on the 24th of January, 1815, as- serted, " that, -as a just retribution, the proud capitol at Wash- ington, had experienced a similar fate to that inflicted by an American force on the seat of government in Upper Canadaj" * IVe have always been of opinio n^^ that our gov eminent luas highly reprehensible^ if not in the failure to adopt retaliatory measures.^ at least to make a aolemn appeal to the British go- vernment and to the ivorld, on the subject of these devastations. The outrages 'were not committed in the heat of the ?no?nent, or by an inferior officer, but by parties which nvere generally led by an ad?niral, and apparently in a systematic manlier, IVe cannot bring ourselves to believe, that if a decided stand had been taken, this abominable system of outrage would have con- tinued to desolate the shores of the Chesapeake to the end of the war. 186 HISTORY OF THE WAR. and the chancellor of the exchequer, in a debate in the British parliament, on an address to the prince regent, in Novennber, 1814, was still more e^iplicit. The Americans at York, he asserted, " not only burnt the house of the governor, but also every house belonging to the meanest individual, even to a shell, and left the populace in the most wretched condition." Thus, in the great as in the little world, one wrong inevita- bly treads on the heels of another. The same cowardly spirit which dictated the orders for devastating the American coast, was apparent on this occasion, when, cowering under the re- proaches of their compatriots for the stain they had cast on the British arms, the ministry were forced to shelter themselves under the most base and malignant untruths. But the reign of falsehood is always short. These official assertions produced an investigation of the subject by congress, which must cover with shame the authors of this slander. From this investigation it appears, that nothing was destroy- ed by the American comncander, excepting the barracks and public storehouses. That several of the most valuable public buildings were destroyed by the explosion of a magazine, which the British set fire to as the Americans entered the place, and which proved fatal to general Pike, and to a vast number of his brave followers. That, notwithstanding this great provocation for burning the town, nothing of the kind took place; a strong guard was set, with positive orders to pre- vent any plunder or depredation on the inhabitants; and when leaving the place, the commander of the American troops re- ceived a letter from judge Scott, chief justice of the superior court, in which he expressed his thanks for the humane treat- ment the inhabitants had experienced from his troops, and for the commander's particular attention to the safety of their per- sons and property. The destruction of public edifices for civil uses was not only unauthorised, but positively forbidden by the American commanders. It has recently however appeared, that a public building, of little value, called the parliament- house (not the government house), had been burnt, in which an American scalp was found, (as appears by the official letter of commodore Chauiicey, to the secretary of the navy), as a part of the decoration of the speaker's chair; whether it was an accidental consequence of the confusion in which the ex- plosion of the magazine involved the town, or the unauthorised act of some exasperated individual, has not been ascertained. The silence of the military and civil officers of the provincial government of Canada, seem to indicate that the transaction was not deemed, when it occurred, a cause, either for retalia- tion or reproach c HISTORY OF THE WAI^ 187 The burning of Newark and of the Indian towns on the river Thames, commonly called the Moravian towns, are also ad- verted to in the report arising out of this investigation. The burning of Newark, it is stated, was vindicated by the Ameri- ciin general, as necessary to his military operations; but as soon as the American government heard of it, instructions, dated the 6th of January, 1814, were given by the department of war, to major-general Wilkinson, " to disavow the conduct of the ofRcer who committed it, and to transmit to governor Prevost a copy of the order, under colour of which that officer had acted.'* This disavowal was accordingly communicated, and on the 10th February, 1814, governor Prevost answered, " that it had been with great satisfaction he had received the assurance, that the perpetration of the burning of the town of Newark, was both unauthorised by the American government, and abhorrent to every American feeling; that if any outrages had ensued the wanton and unjustifiable destruction of New- ark, passing the bounds of just retaliation, they were to be at- tributed to the influence of irritated passions, on the part of the unfortunate sufferers by that event, which, in a state of active warfare, it had not been possible altogether to restrain, and that it was as little congenial to the disposition of his ina- jesty's government, as it was to that of the government of the United States, deliberately to adopt any plan of policy, which had for its object the devastation of private property." But the disavowal of the American government was not the only expiation of the unauthorised offence committed by its officer; for the British government undertook itself to redress the wrong. A few days after the burning of Newark, the Bri- tish and Indian troops crossed the Niagara for this purpose; they surprized and seized Fort Niagara; they burnt the vil- lages of Lewistown, Manchester, Tuscarora, Buffaloe, and Black Rock, desolating the whole of the Niagara frontier, and dispersing the inhabitants in the extremity of the winter. Sir George Prevost himself appears to have been satisfied with the vengeance that had been inflicted; and, in his proclamation of the 1 2th of January, 1814; he expressly declared, that for the burning of Newark, '* the opportunity of punishment had occurred; that a full measure of retaliation had taken place, and that it was not his intention to pursue further a system of warfare, so revolting to his own feelings, and so little conge- nial to the British character, unless the future measures of the enemy should compel him again to resort to it." With his answer to major-general Wilkinson, which has been al- ready noticed, he transmitted a copy of the proclamation, " as 188 HISTORY OF THK WAR. expressive of the determination as to his future line of con- duct," and added, " that he was happy to learn, that there was no probability, that any measures, on the part of the American government, would oblige him to depart from it." The places usually called the Moravian towns, were mere collections of Indian huts and cabins, on the river Le Trench or Thames, not probably worth, in the whole, one thousand dollars. The Indians who inhabited them, among whom were some notoriously hostile to the United States, had made incur- sions the most cruel into their territory. When, therefore, the American army under general Harrison invaded Cauada in 1813, the huts and cabins of the hostile Indians were de- stroyed. But this species of warfare has been invariably pur- sued by every nation engaged in war with the Indians of the American continent. However it may be regretted on the score of humanity, it appears to be the necessary means of averting the still greater calamities of savage hostility; and it is believed, that the occurrence would never have been made the subject of a charge against the American troops, if the fact had not been misrepresented or misunderstood. Many people at home, and most people abroad, have been led to sup- pose, that the Moravian towns were the peaceable settlements of a religious sect of Christians, and not the abode of a hostile tribe of savages. But while excuses are thus framed with a view of palliating the devastation committed ])y the British army, not one at- tempt is made to palliate or excuse the navy for its plunder of the wealthy town of Alexandria, or for the system of pitiful pilfering which was carried on for two summers in the Chesa- peake. Is the plunder and devastation of the property of pri- vate individuals, then less henious than the destruction of pub- lic edifices? or is the world so accustomed to the system of wholesale privateering, unauthorised by the laws of naval war- fare, as to pass over without comment, when committed by naval officers, not only the sack of a large town, but the deso- lation of whole districts? The general orders of Brown, on crossing the Niagara, form a pleasing contrast to the devastating threat of Cochrane. « Upon entering Canada,'' says he, " the laws of war* will * " War is at best a savage things, and nvades through a sea of -violence and injustice; yet even tvar itself has its laivsy which men of honour will not depart from.'' — Plutarch, life of Camillus. IIISTOUY OF THE WAR. ISO will govern; men found in arms, or otherwise engaged in the service of the enemy, will be treated as enemies; those behav- ing peaceable, and following their private occupations, will be treated as friends. Private property will in all cases be held sacred; public property, wherever found, will be seized and disposed of by the commanding general. Any plunderer shall be punished with death, who shall be found violating this or- der." . -An intelligent French writer, in noticing the capture of Ber- lin by the Russians in 1760, remarks, that two important mili- tary principles may be deduced from that event. 1st. That the possession of a capital does not decide the fate of a state, or even of a campaign. 2d. That in the modern art of war, men are of more importance then fortified places, and that a general should never acknowledge himselV vanquished, though all his strong holds be subdued, if he retain his soldiers and his constancy. If these observations be correct in their ap- plication to European capitals, how much more forcibly do they apply to that of the federal government, a mere open vil- lage, of about 8000 inhabitants, and in a country thinly popu- lated! Indeed the capture of Washington cannot be viewed in any other light than as a predatory incursion, under the pre- tence of retaliation, but really with the view of striking terror and inducing submission, and at the same time producing an effect in Europe, where the occupation of the capital of their enemy, it was doubtless conceived, would be viewed as a most brilliant exploit. General Ross ha'd neither the intention nor the means of holding Washington. Without artillery or stores, he was unable to remain longer than 24 hours, when a retreat was commenced under favour of the night, and even then this retreat would have been extremely hazardous, but for the dis- organized state of his opponents, and their blameable defi- ciency in the article of intelligence. It is true, that had they remained a few days longer, a communication with their ship- ping would have been opened by the Potomac, but this arose from a circumstance that could not have been foreseen, and Ross certainly acted wisely in not calculating on the destruc- tion of Fort Washington by its commander. But the capture of Washington produced in Europe a very different effect from what was expected. The Gothic bar- barity displayed in the wanton destruction of the public build- ings roused the indignation of the whole continent, and even produced such a sensation in the British parliament, as to cause its instigators to resort to falsehood to shield them from the pubtic odium. The agitation of the question also drew R 190 HISTORY OF THE WAR. from the ministry a statement, that instructions had been' sent to the coast of America to desist from further inflictions of vengeance. The threats of devastation and their piratical operations in the district of Columbia, produced an electric effect through- out the union. A spirit of patriotism was kindled by the flames of the capitol, before which all party considerations and honest differences of opinion vanished. The war, at its commencement, was considered an inexpedient measure, by a large and respectable portion of the community. The mode of conducting it also, by the invasion of Canada, was con- demned as inefficacious; as resembling more a war for foreign conquest, than a resolute assertion of our naval rights, 'which ought, it was said, to be conquered on the ocean. All aid, either in men or money, was consequently as much as possi- 1 le withheld by those who embraced these sentiments. Party considerations had no doubt their effect in producing this re- sult. It was not to be expected, that the opposition would fail to make use of the same popular topics which had been so successfully wielded against them when in power, and which had finally driven them from their seats. But at this interesting crisis a new spirit pervaded the nation, which aroused it almost instantaneously to arms. Party ran- cour, for a moment, seemed utterly extinct; " this is not the time for speaking, but for acting," became the universal cry. Ail classes seemed inspired with military ardour; the young and ihe old, the rich and the poor, rushed into the ranks, came forward with their contributions, and assisted in the labour of raising works of defence. Nor were even the females idle at this trying moment. Their labours were united in accoutring the volunteers, and iu providing for their necessities. These movements were little if at all regulated by the go- vernments either of the states or of the union. It appeared as if the people, perceiving that the powers with which they had entrusted their rulers were either incompetent to the crisis, or had not been sufficiently acted on, had determined sponta- neously to arise in their might, and take the defence of their respective neighbourhoods upon themselves. Committees of vigilance or defence were every where appointed by the peo- ple in the town meetings, who collected money, arms, and ammunition, regulated the military movements of the citizens, and superintcndtd their voluntary labour at the fortifications. Nor was the public enthusiasm unavailing. From this mo- ment, almost every encounter with the enemy shed new lus- tre on the American arms, till ihc war finully closed in a blaze of glory at New-Orleans. IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR. 191 The unanimity which prevailed at this period cannot perhaps be exemplified more strikingly than by the proclamations of governor Chittenden. — Shortly after his election to the chief tnagistracy of Vermont, in the fall of 1813, Chittenden issued a proclamation, ordering a brigade of Vermont militia, then at Plattsburgh, in the service of the United States, to return to their homes, on the pretence that it was highly improper that the militia should be placed under the command of, and at the disposal of an officer of the United States, and outof the juris- diction or controul of the executive of Vermont, and marched to the defence of a sister state, fully competent to all the pur- poses of self-defence. The militia refused compliance with this requisition, and the offi»cers publicly addressed the govern- or, stating at large their reasons for this refusal. " We are not of that class," say they, " who believe that our duties as ci- tizens or soldiers are circumscribed within the narrow limits of the town or state in which we reside; but that we are under a paramount obligation to our common country, to the great confederacy of States." " We conceive it our duty," they con- tinue. " to declare unequivocally to your excellency, that we shall not obey your excellency's order for returning; but shaH continue in the service of our country, until we are legally and honourably discharged. An invitation or order to desert the standard of our country will never be obeyed by us, although it proceeds from the governor and captain-general of Vermont.'* Adding, " We cannot perceive what other object your excel- lency could have in view than to embarrass the operations of the army, to excite mutiny and sedition among the soldiers, and to induce them to desert, that they might forfeit the wages to which they are entitled for their patriotic services." At this important crisis a very different stand was taken by the same governor. In his proclamation, dated September 19, 1814, he declares, that the war has assumed an entirely differ- ent character, since its first commencement, and has become almost exclusively defensive, and is prosecuted by the enemy with a spirit, unexampled during pending negociations for peace, which leaves no prospect of safety but in a manly and united determination to meet invasion at every point, and expel the invader. That, as the conflict has become a common and not a party concern, the time has now arrived when all degrad- ing party distinctions and animosities, however we may have, differed respecting the policy of declaring, or the mode of pro- secuting the war, ought to be laid aside; that every heart may be stimulated, and every arm nerved, for the protection of our common country, our liberty, our altars, and our firesides; in j2 histoky of the wah. the defence of which we may, with an humble confidence, look to heaven for assistance and protection. He therefore earnest- ly^xhorts all the good people of Vermont, by that love of country, which so signally distinguished their fathers, in their glorious and successful struggle for independence, to unite both heart and hand, in defence of their common interest, and every thing dear to freemen. ' The British army having re-embarked on board the fleet in the Patuxent, admiral Cochrane moved down that river, and proceeded up the Chesapeake, and on the evening of the 10th of September appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, about 14 miles from the city of Baltimore. Anticipating the debark- ation of the troops, general Smith, who commanded at Balti- more, had ordered general Strieker to march, with a portion of his militia, towards North Point, near the mouth of the river, where it was expected the British would make a landing. His force consisted of 550 of the 5th regiment, under lieutenant- colonel Sterret; 620 of the 6th, under lieutenant-colonel Don- ald; 500 of the 27th under lieutenant-colonel Long; 450 of the 39th, under lieutenant-solonel Fowler: 700 of the 51st, under lieutenant-colonel Amey; 150 riflemen, under captain Dyer; 140 cavalry, under lieutenant-colonel Biays; and the Union Ar- tillery of 75 men, v/ith six four pounders, under captain Mont- gomery; making an aggregate of 3,185 efl'ective men. Major Randal, v/ith a light corps of riflemen and musquetry, taken from general Stansbury's brigade and the Pennsylvania volun- teers, was detached to the mouth of Bear Creek, with orders to co-operate with general Strieker, and to check any landing which the enemy might attempt in that quarter. The troops moved towards North Point, by the main road, on the 1 ith,'and at 3 o'clock, P. M. reached the meeting-house, near the head of Bear Creek, seven miles from the city. Here the brigade halted, with the exception of the cavalry, who were pushed forward to Gorsuch's farm three miles in advance, and the riflemen, who took post near the blacksmith's shop, two miles in advance of the encarrpment. At 7 o'clock, on the morning of the 12th, information was received from the advan- ced videttes, that the enemy v/ere debarking troops from and under cover of their gun-vessels, which lay off the blufl*of North Point, within the mouth of Patapsco river. The baggage %vas immediately ordered back under a strong guard, and gen- eral Strieker took a good position at the junction of the two roads leading from Baltimore to North Point, having his right flanked by Bear Creek, and his left by a mash. He here waited the approach of the enemy, having sent on an advanced corps. HISTORY OF THE WAK. 1^3 under the command of major Heath, of the 5th regiment. This advance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skir- mishing it returned to the line, the main body of the enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. During this skirmishing, major-general Ross received a musket-ball through his arm into his breast, which proved fatal to him on his way to the water side for re-embarkation. The command of the enemy's forces then devolved on colonel Brook. Be- tween 2 and S o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up and commenced the battle by some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded by the cannon from both sides, and soon after, the action became general along the line. General Strieker gallantly maintained his ground against a great superiority of numbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regiment on his left (the 51st) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had stationed one regiment as a reserve. He here formed his brigade; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous arrangements, fell back and took post on the left, a half m.ile in advance of the entrenchments, which had been thro vn up on the hills surrounding Baltimore About the time general Strieker had taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined by general Winder,, who had been stationed on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to march with general Douglas' brigade of Virginia militia, and the United States' dragoons, under captain Bird, and take post on the left of general Strieker. During these movements, the brigades of generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and marines, under commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volun teers, under colonels Cobean and Findley, the Baltimore ar- tillery, under colonel Harris, and the marine artillery, under captain Stiles, manned the trenches and batteries, and in this situation spent the night, all prepared to receive the enemy. Next morning, the British appeared in front of the entrench- ments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full view of the position of the Ameri- cans. He manoeuvred during the morning towards his right, as if with the intention of making a circuitous march, and coming down on the Hartford or York roads. Generals Winder and Strieker were ordered to adapt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. The.y executed this order with great skill and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching a&ross the country, when the enemy was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement induced the British to concentrate II 2 HISTOIIY Ui' ThK \VAi'{< t;ir forces in front, pushint^ his advance to within a iriic c ' the entrenchments, driving in the videttes, and showing i\: intention of attacking the position that evenin^^. Smith, there fore, immediately drew generals Winder and Strieker nearer to the right of the enemy, with the intention of falling on his right or rear should he attack the entrenchmeiits, or, if he de- clined it, of attacking him in the morning. As soon as the British troops had debarked at North Point, the iieet proceeded up the Patapsco, to bombard Fort M'Henry, which commands the entrance to the harbour of Baltimore. — On the 13th, about sunrise, the British commenced the attack from their bomb-vessels, at the distance of about two miles, when, finding that the shells reached the fort, they anchored, and kept up an incessant and well-directed bombardment. Fort M'Henry was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Arm- istead. The garrison consisted of one company of Ur.ited States' artillery, under captain Evans, and two companies of sea-fencibles, under captains Bunbury and Addison. Of these three companies, 35 m.en were unfortunately on the sick list and unfit for duty. In contemplation of the attack, Armistead had been furnished with two companies of volunteer artillery from the city of Baltimore, under captain Berry and lieuten- ant-commandant Pennington, a company of volunteer artille- rists, under judge NicholsoD, who had proffered their services, a detachment from comm.odore Barney's flotilla, under lieu- tenant Redman, and about six hundred infantry, under the Command of lieutenant-colonel Stewart and major Lane, con- sisting of detachments from the 12th, 1 4th, 36th, and 28Lh re- giments of United States' troops — the total amounting to about a thousand effective men. Two batteries to the right nf Fort M'Henry, upon the Patapsco, were manned, the one by lieutenant Newcombe, with a detachment of sailors, the other by lieutenant Webster, of the flotilla. The former was ;alled Fort Covingtmi, the latter the City Battery. As soon as the British commenced the bombardment, the 'mtteries at the fort were opened in return; butthe firing soon •eased on the part of the Americans, as it was found that all ib.e shot and shells fell considerably short of the British \'iES- sels. This was a most distressing circumstance to the troops n the fort, as it compelled them to remain inactive, though 1 xposed to a constant and tremendous shower of shells. But though thus inactive, and v./ithout that security, w^hich, in more regular fortifications, is provided for such occasions, not a man shrunk from his post. About 2 o'clock, P. M. one of the twenty-four-pounders on c south-west bastion, under the immediate command of cap K1S*011Y OF THE WAR, lO^ tain Nicholson, was dismounted by a shell, the explosion from which killed his second lieutenant, and wounded several of his men; the bustle necessarily produced in removing the wounded, and remounting the gun, probably induced the Brit- ish to suspect that the garrison was in confusion, as three bojmb-ships were immediately advanced. But the fire, which now opened from the fort, soon compelled them to seek shel- ter, by again withdrawing out of the reach of the guns, when the garrison gave three cheers, and again ceased firing. The British continued throwing shells, with one or two slight intermissions, for twenty-five hours, viz. from sunrise of the 1 3th, till 7 o'clock, A. M. of the 14th of September. During the night, whilst the bombardment was the most se- vere, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded in passing Fort M'Henry, and getting up the Patapsco, but they were soon compelled to retire by the forts in that quarter. These forts also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board. It is supposed that the vessels that passed the fort contained picket men, with scaling ladders, for the purpose of storming. In the course of the night, admiral Cochrane held a com- munication with the commander of the land forces, and the enterprise being considered impracticable, it v/as mutually agreed to withdraw. Accordingly, while the bombardment Will continued, in order to distract the attention of the Ameri- cans, the retreat was commenced. Owing to the extreme darkness, and a continued rain, it was not discovered till day- light, when general Winder commenced a pursuit, with the Virginia brigade and the United States' dragoons; at the same time major Randal was dispatched with his light corps in pur- suit of the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia ca- valry v.'as put in motion for the same object. All the troops were, hov/ever, so worn out with continued watching, and with being under arms during three days and nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very inclement weather, that it was found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few stragglers. The naval forces, as was before observed, continued the bombardment till seven o'clock. About nine they retired to North Point, where the embarkation of the troops commenced that evening, and was completed next day at one o'clock. It would have been impossible, even had the American troops been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any part of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point where it was effected was defended from approach by a line of defences extending from Jiack river to Humphreys' 196* - HISTORY OF THE WAR. creek, on the Patapsco, which had been thrown up previous to the arrival of the British. The loss of the Americans, at the battle near North Point, was 24 killed, 139 wounded, and 50 prisoners. The loss olf the British in this action was 39 killed, and 251 wounded. The loss in the fort Avas only 4 killed and 24 wounded; no list of killed and wounded on board the squadron has been pub- lished. From the best calculations that could be made, from fifteen to eighteen hundred shells were thrown by the enemy. A few of these fell short. A large proportion burst over the fort, throwing their fragments around, and threatening destruc- tion. Many passed over, and about four hundred fell within the works. Two of the public buildings were materially in- jured, the others but slightly. The effect produced by the joyful intelligence of the failure of the attempt upon Baltimore, may be mere easily conceived than expressed, when it is considered that almost every large town being equally threatened with devastation, the case of Baltimore came home to every individual bosom. But one mo- ment before, the public dismay seemed to have reached its acme; and the most gloomy anticipations seemed about to be realized. While admiral Cochrane was threatening the country along the Chesapeake, by order of sir George Prevost, the latter was leading an army and navy into the United States, but holding very different language. Though he could direct the British forces in the south to lay waste and desolate, he was too fear- ful of the re-action of such barbarous orders to dare to utter them at the head of his own troops. Here his language was of the softest and most conciliatory nature. On entering the state of New-York, he " makes known to its peaceable and un- offending inhabitants, that they have no cause for alarm from this invasion of their country, for the safety of themselves and families, or for the security of their property. He explicitly assures them, that as long as they continue to demean them- selves peaceably, they shall be protected in the quiet posses- sion of their homes, and permitted freely to pursue their usual occupations. It is against the government of the United States, by whom this unjust and unprovoked war has been declared, and against those who support it, either openly or secretly, that the arms of his majesty are directed. The quiet and unoffending inhabitants, not found in arms, or other- wise not aiding in hostilities, shall meet with kind usage aud generous treatment; and all just complaints against any majesty's subjects, offering violence to them, to thei^* 1 ■.-. oi -■• HISTORY OF THE M AP.. 197 or to their possessions, shall be immediately redressed." With these fair words, sir George Prevost led his army against Plattsburg, about the beginning of September, while the fleet proceeded on his left up the lake, in order to make a contem- poraneous attack on the Americans by land and water. Previous to this invasion, no military movements took place in this quarter, excepting an attack which was made on an American battery at the mouth of Otter Creek, on the 14th of May, by the British naval forces on the lake. In this affair the British were repulsed with loss. But during the months of July and August, the army from the Garonne, which had so greatly distinguislied itself under general Wellington, arrived in the St. Lawrence; and part of the troops being sent up to the Niagara, the remainder, con- sisting of about 14,000 men, were organized by sir George Pre- vost, agreeably to th& orders of the prince regent, for the pur- pose of undertaking an expedition into the state of New-York. There is good reason to suppose, that if this expedition had been successful, a powerful attempt would have followed from another quarter on the city of Nev/-York, in order, by seizing the line of the Hudson, completely to cut off the New England states. The British troops were concentrated on the frontiers of Lower Canada, and took possession of Chsimplain on the 3d of September, The best part of the American troops in this quar- ter had previously been formed into a division, which had march- ed towards the Niagara, under general Izard. General Ma- comb, as senior officer, had been left in command. But except- ing four companies of the 6th regiment, he had not an organi- zed battalion. The garrison was composed of convalescents and recruits of the new regiments, not exceeding 1500 effec- tive men for duty; all in the greatest confusion, as well as the ordnance and stores, and the works in no state of defence. Finding, from the proclamations of the enemy, and his im- pressment of thevvaggons and teams in his vicinity, that an at- tack on Plattsburg was determined on, every exertion was made to place the works in a state of defence; and, to create an emulation and zeal among the officers and men, they were di- vided into detachments, and placed near the several Forts; Ma- comb declaring in orders, that each detachment was the garri- son of its own work, and bound to defend it to the last extremity. As soon as the force of the enemy was ascertained, general Macomb called on general Mooers, of the New-York militia, and arranged with him plans for bringing forth the militia ea >masse. The inhabitants of Plattsburg fled with their families 198 HISTORY OF THE WAR. and effects, except a few men and some boys, who formed themselves mto a party, received rifles; and were exceedingly useful. By the 4th of the month general Mooers collected about se- ven hundred militia, and advanced seven miles on the Beck- man Town road, to watch the motions of the enemy, and to skirmish with him as he advanced; also to obstruct the roads with fallen trees, and to break up the bridges. On the lake road, at Dead Creek bridge, two hundred men had been posted under captain Sproul of the 1 3th regiment, with orders to ab- batis the woods, to place obstructions in the road, and to forti- fy himself; to this party were added two field-pieces. In ad- vance of this position, was lieutenant-colonel Appling, with 1 10 riflemen, watching the movements of the enemy, and procuring intelligence. It was ascertained, that before day-light on the 6th, the ene- my would advance in two columns, on the two roads before mentioned, dividing at Sampson's, a little below Chazy village. The column on the Beckman Town road proceeded with great rapidity; the militia skirmished with his advanced parties, and, except a few brave men, fell back precipitately, in the greatest disorder, although the British troops did not deign to fire on them- except by their flankers and advanced patroles. The night previous major Wool had been ordered to advance with a detachment of 250 men to support the militia, and set them an example of firmness. Captain Leonard, of the light artille- ry, was also directed to proceed with two pieces, to be on the ground before day; but he did not make his appearance until 8 o'clock, when the enemy had approached within tv/o miles of the village. Major Wool, v/ith his party, disputed the road •with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be prevailed on to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of their general and stafl" officers; although the fields were divided with strong stone walls, and they were told that the enemy could not possibly cut them off*. The state dragoons of New-York wear red coats, and they being on the heiglits to watch the enemy, gave con- stant alarm to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, anti feared his getting in their rear. Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated within a mile of Plattsburg, general Macomb dispatched his aid-de-camp to bring off the detachment at Dead Creek, and to order lieuten- ant-colonel Appling to fall on the enemy's right flank. The colonel fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head of a column debouching from the woods. Here he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen, and HtStOUY OF THE WAR. 199 continued to annoy the column until he formed a junction with Major Wool. The field-pieces did considerable execution among the enemy's columns. So undaunted, however, was the enemy, that he never deployed in his whole march, always pressing on in column. This column, however, was much im- peded by obstructions thrown in the way, and by the removal of the bridge at Dead Creek; as it passed the creek and beach, the galleys kept up on it a lively and galling fire. The village of Plattsburg is situated on the north-west side of the small river Saranac, near where it falls into lake Cham- plahi. The American works were situated on the opposite side of the river. Every road was now full of troops crowding on all sides in upon Plattsburg. The field-pieces were therefore ordered to retire across the bridge, and form a battery for its protection, and to cover the retreat of the infantry, which was accordingly done, and the parties of Appling and Wool, as well as that of Sproul, retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until they got under cover of the works. The enemy*s light troops then took possession of the houses near the bridge, and kept up a constant firing from the windows and balconies, but a few hot shot from the American works, which put the houses in flames, soon obliged these sharp-shooters to retire. The whole day, until it was to late to see, the enemy's light troops endeavour- ed to drive the guards from the bridge, but they paid dearly - for their perseverance. An attempt was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the militia resolutely drove them back. — The troops being now all on the south side of the Saranac, the planks were taken off the bridges, and piled up in the form of breastworks to cover the parties intended to dispute the pas- sage, which afterwards enabled them to hold the bridges against very superior numbers. From the 7th to the 11th, the enemy was employed in get- ting on his battering train, and erecting his batteries and ap- proaches, and constantly skirmishing at the bridges and fords. By this time the militia of New-York and the volunteers of Vermont were pouring in from all quarters. They were all placed along the Saranac, to prevent the enemy's crossing the river, excepting a strong body sent in his rear to harrass him day and niglit, and keep him in continual alarm. The militia behaved with great spirit after the first day, and the volunteers of Vermont were exceedingly serviceable. The regular troops, notwithstanding the constant skirmishing, and repeated endea- vours of the enemy to cross the river, kept at their work day and night strengthening the defences, and evinced a determi- nation to hold out to the last extremity. 200 HISTORY OP THE WAR. Meanwhile the British were streniiovfsly engaged in prcpa- ing the fleet, which was destined to co-operate with the land forces. It appeared in view at Plattsburgh early in the morn* ing of the 1 1th. This fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, carrying 39 guns, 27 of which were twenty-four-poiinders; the brig Linnet, carrying 16 guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each carrying 1 1 guns; and thirteen galleys, live of which carried two, and the remainder one gun each. The American force consisted of the Saratoga, carrying 26 guns, eight of which were long twenty-four-pounders; the Eagle, 20 guns; the Ti- conderoga 17; the Preble 7; and ten galleys, six of which car- ried two, the remainder one gun each. The British were su- perior, both in size and number of guns. At 8 in the morning, the American look-out-boat announced to commodore Macdonough, the conunander of the squadron, the approach of the enemy. He at this time lay at anchor in Plattsburg bay, calmly awaiting the approach of the British squadron, the fleet being moored in line, abreast of the works, with a division of five gun-boats on each flank. At 9, the Bri- tish fleet anchored in Une abreast the Americrtn squadron, at ^bout 300 yards distance, the Confiance opposed to the Sara- toga, the Linnet to the Eagle, the British galleys and one of the sloops to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and the left division of the American galleys; the other sloops to the right division of the American galleys. In this situation the whole force on both sides became en- gaged, the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of the Confiance, But the fire of the Saratoga was aho very destruc- tive to her. The Ticonderoga likewise gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half past 10 o'clock the Eagle, not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and an- chored in a more eligible position, between, the Saratoga and the Ticonderoga, where she very much' annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately left the Saratoga exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. The guns on the starboard side of the Saratoga being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stem anchor was let go, the bower-cable cut, and the ship winded with afresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. A broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which sur- rendered in about fifteen minutes after. The sloops that were opposed to the Eagle had struck some time before and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their galleys having struck also. Three of the enemy's galleys were sunk, the others pulled off*. The American flo- tilla wei'e about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2al V when all the vessels ^tere reported to the commodore as in a sinking- i'^^ie; it then became necessary to annul the signal to the galleys, and order their men to the puijips. The enemy's galleys thus got off in a shattered condition, for there was not> a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the lower rig-ging, being nearly all shot away, hung- down as though it had been just placed over the mast heads. The Saratoga had fifty-five round shot in her hull; the Con- fiance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the Confiance. The enemy's shot must have principally passed just over the heads of the sailors, as there were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the close of the action, which laste'd without intermission two hours and twenty minutes.* This naval engagement was in full view of both armies at Plattsburg. The killed on board the American squadron amounted to 52, the wounded to 58. The killed on board the captured vessels amounted to 84, including captain Downie, the commander of the squadron; the wounded amounted to 1 10; the loss on board the British galleys has never been as- certained. The number of men in the American squadron was 820. the British were supposed to exceed 1000. The batteries on shore were opened on the American works at the same instant that the engagement commenced on the lake, and continued throwing bomb-shells, sharpnells, balls. and Congreve rockets, until sun-set, when the bombardment ceased, every battery of the British being silenced. Thi'ee efforts were m.ade to pass the river at the commencement of the cannonade and bombardment, with a view of assaulting the works, and an immense number of scaling ladders had hcen prepared for that purpose. One of these attempts was made at the village bridge, another at the upper bridge, and a third at a ford about three miles from the works. The two first were repulsed by the regulars; at the ford by the volun- teers and militia. Here the enemy suffered' severely in killed, woun and land forces of Great Britain co-operated, totally frustrated, nearly at the same moment, while another British squadron was added to the. trophies of the American navy. During the first years ofvthe war, the liritish affected to conciliate the New-England states, by exempting their har- bours from blockade, by refraining from the predatory incur- sions with which they teazed the southern coasts, and in one case, even proclaiming that a system of perfect neutrality ws to be observed towards them by the sea and land forces of Great Britain. A different system was adopted this summer. The ports of New-England were included in the sweeping sys- tem of blockading the whole of the American coast, repeated incursions were made for the destruction of private property, and finally a large portion of the District of Maine was ijivaded and captured by a powerful force by land and water. One of the most remarkable attacks, which occurred in the course of the campaign, was that made by Sir Thomas H^rdy, upon Stonington, a small village in Connecticut, about 20 miles east from New-London. On the 9th of August, commodore Hardy appeared off the village with one 74, one frigate, one bomb-ship, and two gun-brigs, and immediately summoned the place to surrender. In the course of the day> a number of flags passed to and from the place, the conditions required were, that the family of Mr. Stewart, late consul at Ncv/ Lon- don, should be immediately sent off to jJie squadron; that the , two guns in the battery should be removed; and that no torpe- does should be fitted from, or suffered to be in, the h^rb>3ur The terms being sent over to New London to general Cusuing, the commanding officer of this district, he replied, iliat the request for the removal of Mr, Stewart's family would h'. forwarded to Washington;/with the others he would not ccui- In the evening, the British commenced the att?x.; vaii rockets from one of the brigs: a great nur.iber of rockets were thrown, with little or no effect. The brig then biiuled up within a short distance of th enfirely at a loss to conjecture what could have been his mo- tive. One horse, and one ^oo^e, constituted the whole list of kiUed on shore; a lieutenant and three privates, of the militia,, were slightly wounded by the bursting of a shell, and two men in the battery by a piece going off at half charge. The town was but little damaged, considering the tremendous cannonade and bornbardment it sustained: one half of the houses were untouched, and not one entirely demolished, although every ship threw its shot completely over the point. Nearly 300 '.shells and fire-carcasses were thrown into the village, making, it was estimated, 50 tons of metal. Three or four tons of shot, carcasses, and bombs were collected by the inhabitants. — After the bombardment, it v^as learnt from good authority, that the British had a number killed, and several badly wounded, by Ihe fire from the two eighteen-poiinders on shore. A few weeks after the declaration of war, sir J. C. Sher- bi oke, governor of Nova Scotia, &c. issued his proclamation, ordering and directing all his majesty's subjects, under his goveniment, to abstain from molesting the inhabitaiits living on the shores of the United States, contiguous to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; and on no account to molest the goods and unarmed coasting vessels, belonging to defenceless inhabi-- tants on the frontiers, so long as they shall abstain on their part from any act of hostility and molestation towards the in- iiabitants of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; on the ground that predatory warfare, carried on against defenceless inhabi- tants, could answer no good purpose. Another proclamation of the same date was issued by gov- ernor Sherbroke and admiral Sawyer, purporting, that having KtbTORY OF THE W/JEt ' 205 understood ttiat the inhabitants of Eastport had miiiifested a disposition to avoid hostilities with the subjects oi' Great Bri- tain, it is made known to them and all concerned, that from a wish to discourage, as far as possible, every species of depre- datory warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress pri- vate individuals; they have respectively issued orders to the naval and land forces, to respect the persons and property of the inhabitants of Eastport, so long as they shall carry on their usual and accustomed trade and intercourse with any part of these provinces, and reciprocally abstain from acts of hostility. Adding, that this system ofpcrfect neutrality towards Eastport, should not be tieparted from without due and timely notice being previously given to the inhabitants. Though some expressions in these proclamations appear a< if they were intended as a mere cover for smuggling transac-- tions, yet the humanity and good sense displayed in the ac- knowledgement," that no good could result from depredatory warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress private in- dividuals," is worthy of high commendation, and it is sincerely to be regretted that the same principle had not been univer- sally acted on. It would have been worthy of two great and magnanimous nations to have waged war, " in a manner most consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those friendly relations, which jt was desirable to preserve between the two nations, after the restoration of peace.** Whether " due and timely notice was previously given" to the inhabitants of Eastport of the departure from Jihis system of perfect neutrality, we have no means of ascertaining. But about two years after the date of this proclamation, f/w/z/ 11, ,1814J Jhe- island on which it stands was captured by a British squadron, and formally taken possession of in the name of his Britannic majesty. Eastport is situated on Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy baj% Although-this island has been held by the Americans since the revoluti<^nary war, the right of its sovereignty has never been settled, it being considered both by the Americans and British as within their boundary line. As soon as it was taken posses*- 4 sion of by the British, the inhabitants were ordered to appear . and declare their intention, whether they would take the oath of allegiance to his Britannic majesty; and were further noti- fied, that all persons not disposed to take this oaili, would be required to depart from the island in the course of seven days, unless special p'ermission was granted to them to remain for a longer period. But a communication was also sent to the gov- ernment of Massachusetts, stating, that the object of the Brl- s 2 wut> illSTOHY OF THE WAR. tish government was to obtain possession of the islands o? Passamaquockly bay, in consequence of their being. considered within their boundary line; that they had no intention of carry- ing on offensive operations against the people residing on the continent, unless their concluct should oblige them to resort to the measure; and in the event of their remaining quiet, they should not be disturbed either in their property or persons, This resolution, however, of avoiding hostile operations against the inhabitants of the continent, was adhered to for a much shorter period than the " system of perfect neutrality,*' promised to be observed towards the inhabitants of Eastport. For the British ministry, elevated by the success of their arms in Europe, had come to the resolution to demand large and important cessions of territory from the United States. One of those cessions included that part of the District of Maine which lies eastward of Penobscot river, which they considered desirable on account of its securing to them a direct commu- Dication between Halifax and Quebec. Instructions were ac- cordingly sent out to lieutenant general Sherbroke, governor of Nova Scotia, Sec. to effect the conquest of that part of Maine, of which it was intended to demand the cessioii. Towards the end of August an expedition sailed from Halifax to accomplish the object in view. The troops were commanded by governor Sherbroke, the naval forces by rear admiral Griffith. It was governor Sherbroke's original intention first to have taken possession of Machias, and then proceed to Castine, on the Penobscot, but on the 30th of August the fleet fell in with tlie Rifleman sloop of war, from which information was obtain- ed that the United States' frigate Adams had amved in the Penobscot; and that, from the apprehensions of being attacked by British cruizers, if she remained at the entrance of the ri- ver, she had run up as high as Hampden, where her guns had been landed, and mounted on shore for her protection. This information determined governor Sherbroke to proceed first to the Penobscot, in order to arrive there before tV.e Ame- ricans had time to strengthen themselves. The fleet arrived off Castine on the ist of Septentber. The small garrison in the fort not being able to resist the overwhelming force of the Bri- tish, discharged their ^guns, blew up the fort, and retired. The enemy then took possession without opposition. The following day a considerable force was despatched up the river tjo Hampden, in order to capture or destroy the Adams. Captain Morris, the commander, had' received intel- iigence the day before of the arrival of the expedition off Cas- tincj wjiiclx was iqnmediately forwarded to brigadier ^general HISTORY (XF THE WA Rr iO't Blake, of the militia, with a request that he would direct such force as could be collected to repair immediately to Hampden. As the ship was prepared for heaving down, and in no situation to receive her arwiament, the attention of the seamen was im- mediately directed to the occupation of such positions on shore 4s' would best enable them to protect her. By great and unre- mitted exertions, and the prompt assistance of all the inhabi- ^tants in the immediate vicinity, during the 1st and 2d, nine pieces were transported to a commanding eminence.near the ship, one to the place selected by general Blake for'his line of battle, fourteen upon a wharf commanding the river below, and one on a point covering the communication between the hill and wharf batteries — temporary platforms of loose plank were laid, and such other arrangements made as would ena- ble them to dispute the passage of a naval force. Want of time prevented Morris from improving all the advantages of his position, and he was compelled to leave his rear and flanks lo the defence of the militia, in case of attack by land troops. Favoured by a fresh breeze, the British had advanced to ' within three miles of the Adams at sun-set on the 2d, with the Sylph mounting 22, and Peruvian J 8 guns, and one transport, one tender, and len barges, manned with seamen from the Bulwark and Dragon, under the command of commodore Bar- rie. Troops were landed, under the command of colonel John, opposite their shipping, without any opposition, their num- bers unknown, but supposed to be about 350. To oppose these troops, about 370 militia were then collected, assisted by lieu- tenant Lewis, of the United States artillery, who, by a forced march, had arrived from Castine, with his detachment of 28 men. Many 'of the militia were without arms, and most of them without any ammunition, and, as the seamen were barely suffi- cient to man the batteries, the ship's muskets were distribut- ed among the militia; the sick were sent across the creel?, with orders for such as were able, to secure themselves in the woods, in case of defeat. These arrangements were not concluded until late on the evening of the 2d. During the night, the militia were reinforced by three com- panies. The British were also landed, and at five next morn- ing, marched towards Hampden, in front of which the militia were advantageously posted. But they were not able to with- stand the attack of the British regulars; they soon gave way and fled in confusion. Captain Morris and his sailors had now no alternative but precipitate retreat or captivity; their reai" and flanks belRg entirely exposed, while they wire destitute -JOS HISTORY Oi' THE WAR. of any otlier defence on that side than their pikes and cutlasses. Lieutenant Wadsworth was therefore ordered to spike the guns, and retire across the bridge, which was done in perfect order, the marines under lieutenant Watson Covering the rear. The remainder of Morris' force was at the same time order- ed to spike the guns at the lower battery, fire the ship, and then join their companions, across the creek. Before these last orders were fu]ly executed, the enemy ap- peared on the hill from which the militia had retired, and the seamen were consequently exposed to their lire for a short time while completing them. When they commenced their retreat, it was found to be immpoSsible to gain the bridge; but they succeeded in fording the creek, and rejoinin.g their com- panions, without receiving the sliglitest injury from the fire of the enemy. The loss of the militia was estimated by the British at 30 or 40 killed, wounded, and missing, while their loss was only one killed, 8 wounded, and I missing. Captain Morris' loss was only a seaman and a marine made prisoner. He estimates the loss of the naval force opposed to him at 8 or 10 killed, and from«i40 to 50 wounded, principally by the eighteen-pounder under charge of lieutenant Lewis, of the United States artil- lery. Machias being now the only post remaining between the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy bay, a brigade was sent against it from^ Castine. It was taken without resistance, and coloilel Pilkington, the British commander, was making arrangements to proceed into the interior of the country, when he received a'letter from brigadier-general Brewer, commanding the dis- trict, engaging that the militia within the co^unty of Washing- ton should not bear arms, or in any way serve against his Bri- tannic majesty during the war. A similar offer having been made by the civil officers and principal citizens of the county, a cessation of arms was agreed upon. Thus was this large district of country from the Penobscot eastward, taken posses- sion of almost without resistance. Having now reviewed the most important transactions of the campaign on our maritime frontier, we will next direct our attention to the upper lakes in the north-west. After the capture of the British fleet on lake Euie, in 1813,.an expedi- tion against the important post of Michillimackinac had been contemplated; but the lateness of the season prevented its being carried into effect. Preparations were therefore made the following summer, and an expedition sailed from Detroit against the fort on the 3d of July, 1814; the troops under the JilSTORY or THE WAR^ 209' command of colonel Croghan, the naval forces under captain Sinclair. The difficulties encountered on the flats of lake St. Clair, where there was only eight feet water, and the rapid current of the river, prevented the squadron from reaching lake Huron till the 12th. Thence the squadron shaped its course for Matchadash bay, and used every possible effort to gain it, but without effect. Not being able to find a pilot for that unfrequented part of the lake, and finding it filled with islands and sunken rocks, wWch must inevitably have proved the destruction of the fleet had they persisted, it being impos- sible to avoid them on account of the impenetrable fog with which the lake is almost continually covered; and finding the army already growing short of provisions, it was agreed be- tween colonel Croghan and the commodore to push for the island of St. Joseph's, near the head of the lake, where the British had a^ small establishment, and Ifere they arrived oft the 20th. The fort being found deserted was destroyed. Whilst the squadron remained wind-bound at St. Joseph's, a: detachment of infantry and artillery, under major Holmes, ^vas dispatched in the launches, under the command of lieu- Jienant Turner, to St. Mary's, to break up the establishm'^nt at that place, and capture a schooner M'hich lay there waiting for a cargo of flour for the North-West company's establishments 6n lake Superior, which had fallen into the hands of the Ame- rican squadron by the capture of the schooner Minx, on its way from Michillimackinac to St. Mary's. The establish- ment, against which this expedition was directed, is a factory of the Montreal company, situated at the foot of the falls of St. Mary, the stream by which lake Superior discharges its waters into lake Huron. These falls are surmounted by a eanal, by which goods are passed in boats from the vessels which navigate one lake to those which traverse the other. The launches, under lieutenant Turner, were rowed night and day; but the distance being 60 miles, against a strong cur- rent, information of their approach reached the enemy about two hours before their arrival, carried by Indians in their light canoes. No resistance was made at the fort, but the British and Indians made their escape, carrying with them all the light valuable articles, such as peltry, clothes, &cc. Turner, with his sailors and a few of the infantry, instantly proceeded to the head of the rapids, where the enemy, finding he could not get off with the vessel Turner was in quest of, set fire to her in several places and scuttled her. Turner, however, suc- ceeded in boarding her, and by considerable exertions extin- guished the flames, and secured her from sinking. But every 210 HISTORY OF THE WAR. effort failed to get her through the falls in safety. She bilged on her passage, and being immediately run on shore, -was burnt. A part of the public property was brought away, and the remainder destroyed. All private property was res- pected. On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron proceeded to Michillimackinac, where they arrived on the 26th. This place is, by nature, a second Gibraltar, being a high rock, inaccessible on every side, except the west: from the landing to the heights is nearly two miles,^ through avery thick wood. Finding that the British had strongly fortified the height overlooking the old fort, Croghan at once despaired of being able, with his small forces to carry the place by storm. He therefore determined to land and establish himself on some favourable position, whence he would be enabled to an- noy the enemy by* gradual and slow approaches, under cover of his artillery, of which he was superior to the enemy th point of metal. He was also induced.to. adopt this step by the supr position, that it would either induce the enemy to attack him in his strong holds, or force the Indians and Canadians, the enemy's most efficient, and only disposable force, off the island, as they would be very unwilling to remain aftejf a permanent footing should be taken. Unfavourable weather prevented the landing of the troops till the 4th of August, when the whole force was disembarked on the west end of the island, under cover of the guns of the shipping. The line being quickly formed, advanced towards a field, which had been recommended as a suitable place for a camp, by persons \yho had lived several years on the island. Hardly had the troops arrived at the edge of the field, before intelligence was conveyed to colonel Croghan that the enemy was a short distance ahead, and in a few seconds a fire of shot and shells opened on the Americans, fropi a battery of four pieces. The enemy's position^ was well selected; his line reached along the edge of the woods, at the farther extremity of the field, and was covejped by a temporary breastwork. On re*, connoitering the enemy, Croghan determined to change his position, which was now two lines, the militia forming the front. He accordingly ordered the battalion of regulars un- der major Holmes, to advance to the right of the militia, thus to outflank the enemy, and by a vigorous Effort gain his rear. But before this movement could be executed, a fire was opened by some Indians posted in a thick wood near the .'\merican right, which proved fatal to major Holmes, and HISTORY OF THE WAR. 211 severely wounded captain Desha, the next officer in rank. This unlucky fire, by depriving the battalion of the services of its most valuable officers, ihrew that part of the line into confu- sion, from which the best exertions of the officers were not able to recover it. Finding it impossible to gain the enemy's left,owing to the impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge was ordered to be made by the regulars immediately against the front. This charge, though made in some confusion, served to drive the enemy back in the woods, whence an annoying fire was kept up by the Indians. Lieutenant Morgan was now ordered up with a light piece to assist the left, which, at this time, was particu- larly galled; its* fire soon forced the enemy to retire to a great- er distance. The position contemplated for the camp being now occupied, was found to be by no means tenable, fropl being interspersed with thickets, and every Way intersected by ravines. Croghan determined, therefore, no longer to expose his force to the fire of an enemy deriving every advantage which could be obtained from numbers and a knowledge of the posi'tion, and therefore ordered a retreat towards the shipping, which was immediately effected. The loss of the Americans in this affair was 1 3 killed, 5 1 wounded, and 2 missing. The loss of the Rpitish has not been ascertained. ' - - ' Michillimackinac being thus found impregnable by assault, measures were adopted lor starving it into submission, by cut- ting off its supplies. The whole of the troops, except three companies, were therefore dispatched in two of the vessels, to join general Brown on the Niagara, and the rest of the squadron directed their course to the east side of the lake,, in order to break up any of the establishments of the enemy in that quarter. The only practicable lines of communication with the lower country, while the Americans were masters of lake Erie, was ^ith Montreal by Outawas, or Grand river, which is connected by means of a portage or carrying-place, with lake Nipissing, which latter empties itself into lake Hu- ron by means of French river; or with York, by means of lake Simcoe and Nautauwasaga river. The first of tliese communis cations was learnt to be impracticable during the present sea- son, on account of the m^j-shy state of the portages. The squadron therefore proceeded to the mouth of the Nautauwa- , saga, where it arrived on the 13th of August, and the troops were immediately disembarked on the peninsula fo!*rned by the river and lake, for the purpose of fixing a catop. 212 HISTORY OF THE WAR. On reconnoitering this position, a schooner, the only one possessed by the British in this quarter, was discovered in the river, a few hundred yards above, under cover of a block- house erected on a commanding situatio^l on the opposite shore. On the following morning, a fire was opened by the shipping on the block-house for a few minutes, bat with little effect, owing to a thin wood intervening to obscure the view. Two howitzers, however, being landed, they commenced throwing shells; and in a few minutes one of the shells burst in the block-house, which shortly after blew up his magazine, allowing the enemy barely time to make his escape. The ex- plosion set fire to a train which had been laid for the destruc- tion of the vessel, and in an instant she was in flames. The necessary preparations had been made by commodore Sinclair for getting on board of her; but frequent and heavy explosions below deck made it too great a risk to attempt saving her. — She was, therefore, with her cargo, entirely consumed. Colonel Croghan not thinking it advisable to fortify and gar- rison Nautauwasaga, the communication from York being so short and convenient, that any force left there might easily be cut off in the winter, the Scorpion and Tigress were left to blockade it closely, until the season should become too boister- ous for boat transportation, and the remainder of the squadron returned to Detroit. But this blockade, which had it been properly enforced, would probably soon have made a bloodless conquest of Michillimackinac, was soon put an end to by the capture of both the schooners.' The Tigress was carried by boarding from the enemy's boats on the night of the 3d of Sep- tember, and the Scoi;pion was surprised and taken by the Ti- gress, on the 6th, at the dawn of day. And thus, by the negli- gence of the officers, was the capture of Michilimackinac completely frustrated for this season. The forces employed in the war with the Creek Indians, a part of whose operations has already been detailed in the for- mer part of this volume, were the Tennessee militia, under ma- jor-general Jackson, whose head-quarters were at Fort Stroth- er, upon the Coosee river; the Georgia militia, under brigadier- general Floyd, whose operations were directed from the Cha- tahouchie; and a body of volunteers, in the southern part of the country of the Creeks, under the command of brigadier-gene- ral Claiborne. The settlements of the hostile Creeks were principally on and between the Tallapoosee and Coosee rivers. Here stood the towns of Tallushatches, Tailedega, and Hilli- bee, which gave their names to the battles so called, which have already been noticed. The town of Autossee stood on the left bank of the TiiUapoosee, HISTORY or THE WAR. 21o Notwithstanding the decisive victories that have been ob- tainecl by the American troops, and the heavy losses of the In- dians, and the destruction of their principal towns, this brave people were still unsubdued. General Cfaiborne, therefore, marched a detachment from Fort Claiborne, on the 13th q^ December, 1813, with a view to the further destruction of their towns. Fort Claiborne is situated on the Alibama river, at no great distance above where, by its junction with the Tom- bigbee, it forms the Mobile river. The object in view was a town, called by the Creeks, Eccanachaca, or Holy Ground. This place, Claiborne was informed, was occupied by a large body of the enemy, under the command of Weatherford, a half- bred chief, who commanded the Indians that commenced the jyar by the destruction of the garrison at Fort Minis. When about 30 miles from the town, a stockade was erected for the security of the sick, and the heavy baggage, and on the morning of the 22d the troops resumed their fine of march. Their course lay chiefly through woods, without a tract to guide them. On the morning of the 23d, the disposition for the attack was made. The troops advanced in three columns, S^^. small body acting as a corps de reserve. About noon the right column came in view of the town, and was immediately vigorously attacked by the enemy, who had been apprised of their approach, and had chosen their field of action. Before the centre or the left could come generally into action, the ene- my were repulsed, and flying in all directions, many of them casting away their arms. Thirty of the Creeks were killed in tliis rencontre, and, judg- ing from appearances, many were wounded. The loss on the part of the Americans was one killed and six wounded. A pursuit was immediately ordered; but, from the nature of the country, nothing was effected. The town was nearly sur- -rounded by swamps and deep ravines, which' rendered the ap- proach of the troops difficult, while it facilitated the escape of the Indians. In the town was found a large quantity of provi- sions, and immense property of various kinds, which the ene- my, flying precipitately, were obliged to leave behind. All were destroyed, together with the village, consisting of about 200 houses. The Indians had barely time to remove their wo- men and children across the Alibama, which runs near where the town stood. The town had beeii built since the com- mencement of hostilities, and was established as a place of se- curity for the inhabitants of several villages. In the house of Weatherfopd, the commander, was found a letter from the Spanish governor of Pensacola to the leader of T 214 HISTORY OF THE WAU. the Creeks, stating, that he had presented their reqij^bt of arms and munitions to the captain-general in Havanna, but had as yet received no answer. He was in hopes, however, he stated, of receiving them; and as soon as that took place, they should be informed. The following day was occupied by the troops in destroying a town consisting of 60 houses, eight miles higher up the river, and in taking and destroying the boats of the enemy. — At this place three Indians of some distinction were killed. The term of service of-the volunteers having now generally expired, they marched to Fort Stoddart, in order to be paid off. Soon after the battle of Talledega, general Jackson's army had*been almost entirely broken up by the expiration of the time of the militia, but on the 14th of January, he was joined at Fort Strother by about 800 new-raised volunteers from Ten- nessee, making his whole force, exclusive of Indians, 930. The term of service of the volunteers being short, and the men full of ardour to meet the enemy, he determined immedi- ately to employ them in active service; and to this he was par- ticularly induced by the information, that the Indians were con- centrating with the view of attacking Fort Armstrong, a posi- tion about 50 miles above Fort Strother, on the same river, and also by his desire to make a diversion in favour of general Floyd, who was about making a movement to the Tailapoosee river, near its junction with the Coosee. The volunteers therefore were marched across the river the r day after their arrival, and on the next day, Jackson followed "-\vith the remainder of his force, consisting of the artillery com- ■ pany with one six-pounder, one company of infantry of 48 men, two companies of spies, of about 30 men each, and a company of volunteer officers, headed by general Coffee, who had been abandoned by his men, under some misapprehension as to theif term of service, and who still remained in the field waiting the orders of the government. On the 17th, the troops took up the line of march, and on the night of the I8th encampe'd at Talledega Fort, where they were joined by between 200 and 300 friendly Indians; 65 of whom were Cherokees, the remainder Creeks. On the 20th, ihcy encamped at Enotachopco, a small Hillibec village, about 12 miles from Emuckfau. Here Jixkson began ta perceive very plainly how little knowledge the spies had of the coun- try,' of the situation of the enemy, or of the distance the army was from them. The hisubordination of the new troops, and the want of skill in most of their officers, a-lso became more HISTORY OF THE WAR. 215 and more apparent. But their ardour to meet the enemy was ^ot diminished; and Jackson had a sure reliance upon the guards, and the company of old volunteer officers, and upon the spies, in all about 125. On the morning of the 21st, the troops marched from Eno- tachopco, as direcc^as possible for the head of the Tallapoosee, and about 2 o'clock, P. M. the spies having discovered two of the enemy, endeavoured to overtake them, but failed. In the evening a large trail was perceived, which led to a new road, much beaten and lately travelled. Knowing that he must have arrived within the neighbourhood of a strong force, and it be- ing late in the day, Jackson determined to^encamp, and recon- noitre the country in the night. He accordingly chose the best scite the country would admit, eccamped in a hollow square, sent out spies and pickets, doubled the centinels, and made the necessary arrangements before dark for a night at- tack- About, 10 o'clock at night one of the pickets fired at three of the enemy, and killed one, but he was not found until the next day. At 1 1, the spies returned with the information, that there was a large encampment of Indians at the distance of about three miles, who, from their whooping and dancing, seemed to be apprized of the approach of the troops. One of these spies, an Indian in whom Jackson had great confidence, assured him that they were carrying off their women and chil- dren, and that their warriors would either niake their escape or attack him before day. Being prepared at all points, no- thing remained to be done but to await their approach, if they meditated an attack, or to be ready, if tliev did not, to pursue and attack them at day-light. While the troops were in this state of readiness, the enemy, about 6 o'clock in the morning, commenced a vigorous attack on the left flank, which was as vigorously met; the action con- tinued to rage on that flank, and on the left of the rear, for about half an hour. So ^soon as it became light enough to pursue, the left wing, having sustained the heat of the action, and being somewhat weakened, was reinforced by a company of infantry, and v^s ordered and led on to the charge by gen- eral Coffee, who was well supported by all the officers and privates-^ho composed that line. The enemy was completely routed at every point, and the friendly Indians joining in the pursuit, they were chased about two miles with considerable slaughter. The chase being over, general Coffee was detached with 400 men and all the Indian force to burn the encampment; but with orders, if it was fortified, not to attack it, until the 216 HISTORY OF THE WAR. artillery could be sent forward to reduce it. On viewing the encampment and its strength, the general thought it most pru- dent to return, and guard the artillery thither. The wisdom of this step was soon discovered — in half an hour after his return to camp, a considerable force of the enemy made its appearance on Jackson's right flank, and commenced a brisk fire on a party of men, who had been on picket guard the night before, and were then in search of the Indians they had fired Viix>n. General Coffee immediately requested 200 men to turn their left flank, which were accordingly ordered; but, through some mistake, not more than 54 followed him, among whom were the old volunteer officers. With these, however, he immediately commenced an attack on the left flank of the enemy, and Jackson ordered 200 of the friendly Indians to fall in upon their right flank, and co-operate with general Coffee, This order was promptly obeyed, and what was expected was realized. The enemy had intended the attack on the right as a feint, and, expecting to direct all Jackson's attention thither, meant to attack him again, and with their main force, on the left flank, which they had hoped to fitid weakened and in disor- der. But they were disappointed; for Jackson had ordered the left flank to remain firm to its place, and the moment the alarm gun was heard in that quarter, he repaired thither, and ordered captain Ferrill, part of the reserve, to support it. The whole line met the approach of the enemy with astonishing intrepidity, and having given a few fires, they forthwith charged with great vigour. The effect was immediate and inevitable. The enemy fled with precipitation, and were pursued to a con- siderable distance, by the left flank and the friendly Indiansj .. with a galling and destructive fire. i; In the mean time general Coffee was contending with a su- f perior force of the enemy. The Indians who had been order- I ed to his support, and who had set out for this purpose, hear- I ing the firing on the left, had retarned to that quarter, and \ when the enemy were routed there, entered into the chase. That being noW over, 100 of them were sent to the relief of Coffee, and as soon as they reached him, the charge was made und the enemy routed: they were pursued about three miles. and 45 of them slain, who wert2 found. General Coffee was wounded in the body, and his aid-de-camp, A. Donaldson, killed, together with three others. The camp was now fortified, in order that the troops might be the better prepared to repel any attack which might be made the following night, and next morning the troops set out on their return to Fort Strother, general Jackson not HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2 IT deeming it prudent to proceed farther, on account of the scar- city of supplies, tlie number of his wounded, and the probabili- ty of the Indians receiving reinforcements from below. The retreat commenced at 10 o'clock on the 23d, and the troops were fortunate enough to reach Enotachopco before night, having passed a dangerous defile without interruption. The camp was again fortified. Having another defilo* to pass in the morning, across a deep creek, and between two hills, which Jackson had viewed with attention, as he passed on, and where he expected he might be attacked, he determined to pass it' at another point, and gave directions to the t^uidc and fatigue- men accordingly. The general's expectation of an attack in the morning was increased by the signs of the night, and with it his caution. Before the wounded were removed from the interior of the camp, the front and rear-guards were formed, as well as the, right and left columns, and the centre moved off in regular order, leading down a ridge to Enotachopco creek, at a point where it was clear of reeds, except immedi- ately on its margin. A general order had been previously issued, pointing out the manner in which the men should be formed in the event of an attack on the front, or rear, or on the flanks, and the officers had been particularly cautioned to halt and form accordingly^ the instant the word should be given. The front guard had crossed with, part of the flank columns, the wounded were over, and the artillery in the acfof entering the creek when an alarm-gun was heard in the rear. Having chosen the ground, Jackson expected, there to have entirely cut off the enemy, by wheelLng the right and left eolumns on their pivot, re-crossing the creek above and below, and falling in upon their flanks and rear. But, to his astonishment and mortification, when the word was given to halt and form, and a few guns had been fired, the right and left columns of the rear-guard precipitately gave way. Tliis shameful retreat was disastrous in the extreme: it drevv along with it the greater part of the centre column, leaving not more than 2j men, who being formed by colonel Carroll, maintained their ground as long as it was possible to maintain it. There was then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the rear-guard, the artillery company, and captairj Russell's com- pany of spies. Their conduct, however, exceeded the highest expectations. Lieutenant Armstrong, who commanded the artillery company, ia the absence of captain Deadrick, who was confined by sickness, ordered them to form, and advanced lo the top of the hill, whilst he and a few others dragged up T 2 218 HISTORY OF THE WAR. the six'pounder. Never was more bravery displayed than on this occasion. Amidst the most galling; hre from ir.e enemy, more than ten times their number, they ascended the hill and maintained their position, until their piece was hauled up, when, having leveiled it, they poured upon the enemy a fife of grape, re-loaded and fired again, charged and repulsed them.* A number of the troops now crossed the creek, and entered into the chase. Caprain Gordon of the spies, who had rushed from the front, endeavoured to turn the left flank of the ene- my, in which he partially succeeded, and colonel Carroll; Colonel Higgins, and captains Elliot and Pipkins, pursued the enemy for more than two miles, who fled in consteraation, throwing away their packs, and leaving 26 of thejr warriors dead on the field.' This last defeat was decisive, the troops being no more disturbed in their retreat. The loss sustained in these several engagements was 20 killed and 75 wounded, 4 of whom afterwards died. The loss of the enemy could not be accurately ascertained: 189 of their warriors were tbund dead; but this must fall considera- bly short of the number really killed. Their wounded can only be guessed at. Meanwhile general Floyd was advancing towards th»3 Indian lerrito^ from Chatahouchie river. On the 27th of Jafiuary his camp was attacked by a large body of Indians, at the hour usually chosen for their operations, viz. about an hour before day. They stole upon the centinels, fired upon them, and i.hen with great impetuosity rushed upon the line. In 20 * GeneralJackson, in his official re jiort^ atates some instances of fierhafis the most deliberate bravery that have ever been re- i-jrded. The individuals mentioned were lieutenant Armstrong, Constantine Perkins^ and Craven Jackson^ all of the artillery ^ the tivo latter acting as gunners. In the hurry of the mo-ment^ VI scfiarating the gun from the limbers^ the rammer and flicker^ of the the cannon nvereleft tied to the limber; no sooner ivas this discovered^ than Jackson^ amidst the galling fire of the enemy y [lulled out the ramrod of his ?nusket and used it as a picker; primed with a cartridge^ and fired the camion. Perkins having pulled off his bayonet^ used his musket as a rammer^ and drove doivn the cartridge; and Jackson^ using his former jilan^ again discharged her. Lieutenant Armstrong fellyjust after the first fire of the cannon^ exclaiming., as he lay, *^ my brave fellows, Hoine of you may fall, but you must save the cannon J' HISrOKY OF THE WAR. 219 minuter the action became general, and the front of both flanks were closely pressed, but the gallant conduct of the officers, and the firmness of the men, repelled them at every point. As soon as it became light enough to distinguish objects, Floyd strengthened his right wing to prepare them for a charge, and the cavalry yv^ ordered to form in their rear, to act as circumstances should dictate. The order for the charge was promptly obeyed, and the enemy fled in every direction before the bayonet. The order-was then given for the charge of the cavaby, who pursued and sabred fifteen of the enemy. Th'irty-seven Indians were left dead on the field. From the effusion of blood, and number of the war-clubs and head- dresses found in various directions, their loss must have been considerable. Floyd's loss was 17 killed, and 132 wounded. ^ The Creeks being rather inspirited than cast down by their last ehcounters witli the whites, more vigorous efforts became necessary. General Jackson, therefore, having received rem ' forcements of militia from Tennessee, and being joined a considerable body of Cherokee and friendly Creek India set out on another expedition to the Tallapoosee river. He put his army in motion from the Coosee river on the morning of the 24th of March, and having a passage of fifty-two and a half miles over tlie ridges which divide the waters of the two rivers, reached the bend of the Tallapoosee, thixe miles beyond where the engagement of the 22d of January took place, and at the southern extremity of New Youca, on thtj morning of the 27th. This bend resembles in its curvature that of a horse-shoe, and is thence called by that name among the whites. Nature furnishes few situations as eligible for defence; and barbarians never rendered one more secure by art, than was this by the Creeks. Across the neck of land which leads into it from the north-, they had erected a breastwork, of the greatest compact- ness and strength, from five to eight feet high, and prepared with double rows of port-holes very artfully arranged. The figure of this wall manifested no less skilWh the projectors of it, than its construction; an army could not approach it with- out being exposed to a double and cross fire from the eneniy, who lay in perfect security behind it. The area of this penin- sula, thus bounded by breastworks, included about 80 or 100 acres. In this bend the warriors from Oakfuskee, Oakchaya, New Youca, Hillabees, the Fish Ponds, and Eufauta towns, appriz- ed of Jackson's approach, had collected their strength. Their exact number was not ascertained; but it wa^ believed to have 220 HISTORY OF THE WAR. been about 1000; and relyinp; with the utmost confidence up- on their strength, their situation, and the assurances of their prophets, they calculated on repulsing Jackson with great ease. -.w Early on the morning of the 27th, having encamped the pre- ceding night at the distance of six miles ivam the bend, Jack- son detached general Coffee with the mounted men and near- ly the whole of the Indian force, to pass the river at a ford about three miles below their encampment; and to surround the bend in such a manner that nonc'of them should escape by attempting to cross the river. With the remainder cff the forces Jackson proceeded alongythe point of land, which led to the front of their breastwork; and at half past 10 o'clock, planted his artillery on a small eminence, distant from the near- est point of the breastwork about 80 yards, and from its farth- est about 250; from which a brisk lire was immediately opened upon its centre. Whenever the enemy showed themselves behind their works, or ventured to approach them, a galling fire was opened upon them with musquetry and rifles. Meanwhile general Coffee, having crossedbelow, turned up the river, bearing away from its cliffs. When within half a mile of the village, which stood at the extremity of the penin- ,sula, the savage jell was raised by the enemy. Expecting an immediate attack. Coffee drew up his forces in line of battle, in an open hilly woodland, and moved forward in that position. \The friendly Indians had been previously ordered to advance \secretly and take possession of the bank of the river, and pre- vent the enemy from crossing on the approach of Jackson's main body in front. Accordingly, the fire of Jackson's cannon commencing when Coffee's troops were within about a quar- ter of a mile from the river, his Indians immediately rushed forward with great impetuosity to its banks. The militia were halted, and kept in order of battle, an attack on the rear being expected from the Oakfuskee villages, which lay on the river about eight miles below. The fire of the ^pnnon and small arms becoming now gene- ral and heavy in front, animated the Indians on the bank; and seeing about 100 of the warriors, and all the squaws and chil- dren of the enemy running about among the huts of the vil- lage on the opposite shore, they could no longer remain si- lent spectators. While some kept up a fir^ across the river (here about 120 yards wide), to prevent the enemy's approach to the bank, others plunged into the river and swam across foi' canoes, that lay on the other side in considerable numbers. — Having succeeded in bringing them over, numbers embarked. HISTORY OF THE WAR. 221 dind landing in the peninsula, advanced into the village, and soon drove the enemy from the huts up to the fortification, where they pursued and continued to annoy them during the whole action. This movement of the friendly Indians leaving the river bank unguarded, made it necessary that a part of Coffee's line should take their place. A company of rangers were accord- ingly posted on the bank of the upper part, and a lieutenant with 40 men took possession of an island in the lower part of the bend. Finding that the friendly Indians, notwithstanding the deter- mined bravery they displayed, were wholly insufficient to dis- lodge the enemy, and that general Coffee had secured the op- posite banks of the river, Jackson determined upon taking pos- session of the works by storm. Never v/ere men better dis^ posed for such an undertaking, than th6se by whom it was to; be effected. They had entreated to be led to the charge with the most pressing importunity; and received the order whiciv was now given, with the strongest demonstration of joy Th6- effect was such as this temper of mind foretold. The regu. lar troops, led by colonel Williams and major Montgomery'^j were presently in possession of the nearer side of the breast*{| Work; and the militia accortipanied them in^the charge withl a vivacity and firmness which could not have been exc^ededyj and have seldom been equalled by troops of any description. Having maintained for a few minutes a very obstinate con^ test, muzzle to muzzle, through the port-holes, in which ma- ny of the enemy's balls were welded to the American bayo- nets, they succeeded in gaining possession \)f the opposit6:| side of the works. The event could then no longer bedoubt^^ ful; the en^my, although many of them fought to the last wit! that kind of bravery which desperation inspires, were route^l and cut to pieces. The whole margin of the river which sur^ rounded the peninsula, was strewed With the slain: 557 were found, besides a great number who were thrown in the rivei by their surviving friends, and killed in at*^mpting to pass it,| by general Coffee's men, stationed on the opposite banks. Not more than 20 could have escaped. Among the dead wa$!| found their famous prophet Manahoee, shot in the mouth by grape-shot, and two other prophets. Two or three women an( children were killed by accident. The number of prisoners" taken exceeded 300, all women and children excepting three or four. * The battle may be said to have continued with severity for cibout five hours; but the firing and the slaughter continued 222 HISTORY OF THE -SVAR. until it was suspeiKled by the darkness of the night. The next morning it was resumed, and 16 of the enemy slain, who had concealed themselves under the banks. . Jackson's loss was 26 white men killed, and 107 wounded, 18 Cherokees killed, and 36 wounded, 5 friendly Creeks kill- ed, and \\ wounded. Thi-s most decisive battle completely broke the spirit as well as power of the hostile Creeks, who were never after able to make head against the troops of the United States. Jackson shortly after completely scoured the Coosee and Tallapoosee rivers, and the intervening country. A part of the enemy on the latter river, just before his arrival, made their escape across it, and fled in consternation towards Pensacola. , Most of the inhabitants on the Coosee and the neighbouring country came in, and syrrendered unconditionally. Many of the negroes taken at Fort Minis \ikiYe delivered up, and one white woman, with her two children. A detachment of militia from North and South Carolina, under the command of colonel Pearson, scoured the country below, upon the Alibama, took a number of prisoners, and re- ceived the submission of a great number of Creek warriors and prophets. On the return of Pearson's expedition, he had with him upwards of 600 of the late hostile Creeks, and near- ly all-fthe rema^iing negroes that had been captured at Fort Mims. ^ On the 1st of August, the principal chiefs of the hostile ^JCreeks met general Jackson at the fort called by his name, for the purpose of concluding articles of agreement and capitu- lation, which were agreed upon the 9th of the same month. By this treaty a large and valuable portion of their territory was ceded to the United States, as an equivalent for the ex- penses incurred in prosecuting the war, and the right of the United States to establish military posts ami trading-houses, and to open i^oads within their territory, was acknowledged, as also the right to the free navigation of all their waters. The Creeks also engaged to make an immediate surrender of all the persons and property taken from the citizens of the Unit- ed States, the friendly part of the Creek nation, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, to the respective owners; and to surrender all the prophets and instigators of the war, whether foreigners or natives, who had not submitted to tlic arms of the United States, and become parties to these arti- cles, if ever they should be found within the territory of the Creeks. It was also stipulated,- that the Creeks should aban-^ don all communication, and cease to hold any intercourse witii HISTORY (JF THE WAU. 2:^3 any British or Spanish post, garrison or town; and that they should not admit among them any agent or trader, who should not derive authority to hold commercial or other intercourse with them, by license from the president or authorised agent of the United States. The United States engaged to guaran- tee the reminder of their territory, and to restore all their pri- soners; and, in consideration of the nation being reduced to extreme want, and not having at present the means of sub- sistence, the United States engaged, from motives of human- ity, to continue to furnish them gratuitously with the neces- saries, of life, until the crops of corn could be considered com- petent to yield the nation a supply; and to establish trading houses, to enable the nation by industry and economy to pro- cure clothing. Thus ended the Creek war, after a prodigious slaughter of those brave, misguided men, and the unconditional submis- sion of the remainder, excepting a few who took refuge in^ Florida. Nearly the whole of the Creek towns were dej stroyed. But hardly was the Indian wa^ at an end, before new trpu* bles sprang up in this quarter, and general Jackson was force( to encounter a much more f<^'midable enemy. After conclucb* ing the treaty with the Creeks, Jackson moved his head quar* ters to Mobile, where, on the 27th of Augusc, he received in^| formation by express, from Pensacola, that three British ves- sels had arrived there on the 25th, which, on the following day had disembarked an immense quantity of arms, ammunition, munitions of war, and provisions, and marched into thcJ Span- ish fort between two and three hundred troops. He was like- wise informed that thirteen sail of the line, with a large num- ber of transpor;^, bringing 10,000 troops, were daily expected. On the receipt of this information, Jackson immediately dis- patched an express to the governor of Tennessee, at Nashville, requesting that the whole of the quota of the militia of that state should be organized, equipped, and brought into the field, without delay, and his adjutant-general, then in Tennes- see, was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for immediately provisioning and bringing the troops to head- quarters. The three vessels which had arrived at Pensacola, joined by another, soon after sailed from that port for Mobile, and on the 15th of September appeared off Fort Bowyer. The town of Mobile, where general Jackson had his head-quarters, is situ- ated on the west side of the Mobile river, at its entrance into the bay of the same name. Mobile bay is about 30 miles long, 224 HISTORY Q¥ THE WAR. and of considerable breadth; but its entrance is only five mile broad, and is completely commanded by Fort Bowyer, which is situated at the extreme point on the east side of the bay.— The fort was occupied by a small garrison, commanded by major Lawrence, of the 2d infantry. The British squadron, consisting of two ships and two brigs, appeared in sight about noon of the 15th, standing directly for the fort. At 4, in the afternoon, the battery was opened upon them; the firing was immediately returned from all the vessels. A force of liO marines, commanded by colonel Nicholls, 200 Creek Indians, headed by captain Woodbine, of the British navy, and about 20 artillerists, had been previously landed in the rear of the fort, and opened a fire upon it from a twelve- pounder and a howitzer, but they did no execution, and were soon silenced by a few shot. The action continued without in- termission on either side for nearly three hours, when three of the vessels were compelled to retire. The commodore's ship, which mounted 22 thirty-two-pound carronades, having an- chored nearest the fort, had her cable cut by the shot, and was so much disabled that she drifted on shore, within 600 yards of the battery; when the other vessels being out of reach, such a tremendous fire was opened upojj^ her, that she was set on fire and abandoned by such of her crew as survived. Out of a crew of-* 170 men, the commander and 20 men only escaped. On board of the other ship, 85 were killed and wounded; one of the brigs aleo was very considerably damaged; but her loss was not ascertained. The effective force in the fort was about 120 itien; their loss was only four killed and five wounded. — During the hottest part of the action the flag staff being shot away, the flag was immediately regained under a heavy fiie of grape and cannister, hoisted on a sponge staff, and planted on the parapet. The land-forces retreated by land to Pensacola, after having re-embarked their pieces. A short time previous to this attack, a proclamation was is- sued by Edward Nicholls, commanding his Brita.nnic majesty's forces in the Floridas, and dated head-quarters, Pensacola, ad- dressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, Kentucky, and Ten- nessee. In this address the natives of Louisiana are called upon to assist the British forces in liberating their paternal soil from a fruitless imbecile government; to abolish the Ameri- can usurpation, and put the lawful owners of the soil in pos- session. The inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee are tpid that they have too long borne with grievous impositions; that the brunt of the war has fallen on their brave sons; and they are intreated to be imposed on no more, but either to range IIISTORY OT THE W*AK^ 4225 tliemsclves under the standard of their forefathers, of observe a strict neutrality. If they complied with either of these of- fers, the address assured them, that whatever provisions they sent down should be paid for in dollars, and the safety of the persons bnnging it, as well as the free navigation of the Mis- sissippi, guaranteed. The proclamation then calls to the view of the " men of Ken* tucky the conduct of those factions which hurried them into this cruel, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and the liberties of the world; when she was expending millions of her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the form of man. When groaning Europe was in her last gasp, when Britons alone sliowed an undaunted front, basely did these assassins endeavour to stab her from the rear; she has turned on them, renovated from the bloody but successful strug- gle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly to avenge the unprovoked insult. Shew them," continued Nicholls, " that you are not cqjlectively unjust — leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but let every honest, upright American spurn them with merited contempt. After the experience of 21 years, can you any longer support those brawlers of liberty, who call it freedom, when themselves are no more free than their impostors? Be no longer their dupes, accept my oifers, and all that is pro- mised you in the proclamation, I guarantee to you on the sa- cred word of a British officer." A greater degree of ignorance of the nature of the people addressed, was ^Derhaps never displayed, than was manifested in this proclamation. Nicholls himself was enabled to take a pretty favourable view of its reception a few days after it was issued, as he headed the land forces employed against Fort Bowyer. Previous to the attack upon Mobile, Nicholls had held out the most seducing offers to induce a band of lawless men, who had formed an establishment on the island of Barrataria, to enter into the British service in the operations planned against Lower Louisiana. But although these men were acting in the most lawless manner, and though they were actually pro- scribed by the American government, they would not consent to act the part of traitors. Instead of accepting the British offers, they procrastinated their answer, and immediatelv dis- patched the intelligence to New Orleans. 226 HISTORY or THE WAR. The Bcirratarians principally consisted of the officers and crews of French privateers, who, on the capture of Giiada- loupe, the last of the French West-India islands, had repaired to Carthagena, and accepted commissions from the new gov- ernment which had been established there. For the conveni- ence of disposing of their prizes, these men resorted to Barra- taria, and formed establishments in the island of Grand Terre, and other places along the coast of Louisiana to the west of the jMississippi, whence, it is said, they preyed indiscriminately upon the commerce of all nations, not excepting even that of the United States, in whose dominions they had thus unwar- rantably settled themselves. The chief intercourse of the Barratarians was with New Orleans, almost all their prize goods being smuggled into that port. In the year 1813, this lawless colony excited the attention of the government of Louisiana, and a company was ordered out to break up the establishment. But this small force proved quite ineffectual: the whole party were surprised and captured before they reached the settlements of this resolute set of men. The naval force, however, bf ing considerably strengthened in the summer of 1814, a new expedition was fitted out. On the llth of September, commodore Patterson left New Orleans with a detachment of 70 of the 44th regiment of infantry, commanded by colonel Ross, and being joined by the schooner Caroline at Placquemine, and the gun-boats at the Balize, on the morning of the 1 6th made the island of Barrataria, and discovered a number of vessels in the harbour, some of which showed Carthagenian colours. As soon as the squadron was perceived, the Barratarians formed their vessels, ten in. num- ber, into a line of battle near the entrance of the harbour; and Patterson also formed his vessels into a line of battle, consist- ing of six gun-boats, a tender, and a launch; the schooner Ca- roline drawing too much water to cross the bar. On the ap- proach of the squadron, however, the Barratarians abandoned their vessels, and took to flight in all directions in their small boats, having previously fired two of their best schooners. — The launch, with two gun-barges and the small boats, were immediately sent in pursuit, and all the vessels in the harbour were taken possession of, and the establishment on shore com- pletely destroyed. The unprecedented conduct of the governor of Pensacola, in harbouring and aiding the British and their Indian allies, and in allowing them to fit out expeditions against the United States from that port, had been forcibly remonstrated against by general Jackson, but hitherto without effect. Having been JIISTOllY OF THE WAR. 227 reinforced by about 2000 Tennessee militia, which had marched to Mobile through the Indian country, Jackson, therefore, ad- vanced towards Pensacola to demand redress. He reached the neighbourhood of that post on the atternoon of the 6th of November, and immediately sent a flag to communicate the object of his visit to the governor; but it was forced to return, being fired on from the batteries. Jackson then reconnoitered the fort, and finding it defended by both English and Spanish troops, determined to storm the town,- and accordingly made the necessary arrangements for carrying his deterniinution into effect the next day. The troops were put in motion for the attack early on the Tth. Being encamped to the west of the town, Jackson calcu- lated that the attack would be expected from that quarter. To cherish this idea, part of the mounted men were sent to show themselves on the west, while the remainder of the troops passed in the rear of the fort, undiscovered, to the east of the town. When at the distance of a mile, the town appeared in full view. The troops, principally militia, with a few regu- lars, and some Choctaw Indians, advanced with the most un- daunted courage, although a strong fort appeared ready to as- sail them, on the right, seven British armed vessels on the left, and strong block-houses and batteries of cannon in front. On entering the town, a battery of two cannon w?.s opened on t!.*- centre column, composed of tlie regulars, with ball aiul grujiv:, and a shower of musqueiry from the houses and gardens. The battery was immediately stormed, and the musquetry v,ns soon silenced by the steady and v/cll-directed fire of the regu- lars. The governor now made his appearance with a flag, and begged for mercy, oflTering to surrender the town and fort un- conditionally. Mercy was granted, and protection given to the citizens and their property, although the ofticer command- ing the fort refused to give it up, and held it till near mid- night, when he evacuated it with his troops. The British moved down to the Barrancas, a strong fort commanding the harbour, and, finding that Jackson had gained possession of the town, next morning spiked and dismounted the cannon, and blew up the fort, just as the American troops were pre- paring to march and storm tlie place. The British then withdrew to their shipping, and general Jackson, having accomplished his object, evacuated the town, and returned to the American dominions. The dangers impending over New Orleans, from the threat- ened expedition of the British, nqw rendered the presence of '^28 HISTORY. OP THE WAH. general Jackson highly necessary at that city. He arrived there with iiis troops on the 2d of December, and immediate measures of defence were adopted, by embodying the militia, repairing the forts on the river, Sec. A few days after Jackson's arrival, the British fleet made their appearance in the bay of St. Louis, and on the 12th, the fleet appeared in such strength off Ship island, as to induce lieutenant Jones, who commanded the American flotilla of gun-boats, to retire higher up the lake, to take a position to defend the passes to New Orleans. On the 13th, the Ameri- can schooner Seahorse, which had been sent by the commo- dore that morning to the Bay of St. Louis, to assist in the re- moval of some public stores, was attacked by three of the enemy's barges. These were driven off', but being reinforced by four others, the schooner v/as blov/u up by her crew, and the store-house set on fire. On the following day, the Ame- rican flotilla, while becalmed, was attacked by 42 heavy launches and gun-barges, manned with 1000 men and officers, and after a vigorous resistance, for upwards of an hour, against this overwhelming force, the whole flotilla was cap- tured by the enemy. The news of the arrival of the British squadron in these waters, reached New Orleans on the 1 2th of December, and in a day or two after, martial law was proclaimed in the city, ar.d the militia called out en masf^e. Large appropriations v.ere made by the legislature of Louisiana for the erection of batteries, and granting bounties to seamen to enlist in the ser- \ice; an embargo v/as laid for three days in order to stop the departure of those individuals; and a requisition was made by general Jackson of negroes to work on the fortifications, and all those found in the streets were impressed for that purpose, as well as all kinds of drays and carts. Four thousand Ten- nessee militia arrived by water on the 21st, and Jackson was further reinforced by the Barratarians, to whom an amnesty was granted by the general and the governor of Louisiana, on condition of their joining in the defence of the counti>y. The loss of the gun-boats having given the enemy command of lake Borgne, he was enabled to choose his point of attack. It became, therefore, an object of importance to obstruct the lumierous bayous and canals leading from that lake to the highlands on the Mississippi. This important service was committed to major-general Villere, commanding the district between the river and the lakes, wlio, being a native of the country, was presumed to be best acquainted with all these passes. Unfortunately, however, a picket which the general HISTORY OF THE WAR. 221-^ had established at the mouth of the bayou Bienvenu, and which, notwithstanding general Jackson's orders, had been left unobstructed, was completely surprised, and the enemy penetrated through a canal leading to his farm, about two leagues below the city, and succeeded in cutting off a com- pany of militia stationed there. This intelligence was com- municated to Jackson about 12 o'clock on the 23d. His force at this time consisted of parts of the 7th and 44th regmients, not exceeding 600 together, the city militia, a part of general Coffee's brigade of mounted gun-men, and the detached mili- tia from the western division of Tennessee, under the com- mand of major-general Carroll. These two last corps were stationed four miles above the city. Apprehending a double attack by the way of Chef Menteur, general Carroll's force, and the militia of the city, were left posted on the Gentilly road, and at 5 o'clock, P. M. Jackson marched to meet the enemy, whom he was resolved to attack in his first position, with major Hind's dragoons, general Coffee's brigade, parts of the 7th and 44th regiments, the uniformed companies of militia, under the command of major Planche, 200 men of colour, chiefly from St. Domingo; and a detachment of artillery, un- der the direction of colonel M'Rea, with 2 six-pounders, un- der the command of lieutenant Spots, not exceeding in 'all 1500 men. Jackson arrived near the enemy's encampment about 7, and immediately made his dispositions for the attack. The enemy's forces, amounting at that time on land to about 3000, extended half a mile on the river, and in the rear nearly to the wood. General Coffee was ordered to turn their right, while, with the residue of the force, Jackson attacked his strongest posi' tion on the left near the river. Commodore Patterson, having dropped down the river in the schooner Caroline, was direct- ed to open a fire upon their camp, which he executed about half after 7. This being the signal of attack, general Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the enemy's right and entered their camp, while Jackson's troops advanced with equal ardour. Unfortunately, a thick fog, which arose about eight o^clock, caused some confusion among the different corps. Fearing the consequences, under this circumstance, of the further pro- secution of a night attack with troops then acting together for the first time, Jackson contented himself with lying on the field that night; and at four in the morning assumed a stronger position about two miles nearer to the city. In this action the American loss was 24 killed, 1 15 wound- '^.SO HISTORY OF THE WAR. cd, and 74 missing; the British loss amounted to 46 killed. )67 wounded, and 64 missing. The country between New-Orleans and the sea is one ex- tensive swamp excepting the immediate banks of the Missis- sippi. These banks are generally about a quarter of a mile wide, and being higher than the country behind, are dry, ex- cept in time of inundation, when the whole country would form one vast flood, were it not for the artificial banks or le- vees which have been erected for the preservation of the farms on this narrow, but fertile strip of land. The city of New-Orleans itself is protected from the river in the same manner. At intervals there are bayous or outlets which pierce these banks; the water which flows through them, however, never returns to the bed of the river, but finds its way to the Gulf of Mexico by other channels through the swamps. From this description of the country, it will be perceived that New -Orleans is extremely susceptible of defence, and tliat over a certain proportion, numbers are nearly unavailmg. The position taken up by general Jackson occupied both banks of the river. On the left it was simply a straight line of a front of about 1000 yards, with a parapet, the right resting on the river, and the left on a wood, which communicated with the swamp, and the passage of which had been rendered im- practicable for troops. This line was strengthened by flank works, and had a ditch with about four feet of water. On the right bank was a heavy battery of 15 guns, which enfiladed the whole front of the position on the left bank. The British having erected a battery in the night of the 26th, shucceeded on the following day, in blowing up the schooner Caroline, which lay b&calmed a short distance above in th^e Mississippi. Her cre#, however, had previously made theis escape. Emboldened by this event, the enemy marched his whole force on the 28th lap the levee, in the hope of driving the Americans from their position, and with this view opened upon them, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and rockets. He was repulsed, however, with the loss of 16 kill- ed, and 38 wounded. The American loss was T killed, and 8 v/ounded. Another attempt was made upon the American lines on the 1st of January. The enemy having the preceding night erect- ed a battery near the works, in the morning opened a heavy fire from it, and made two bold attempts to force and tura the left wing, in both of which they were repulsed; and in the course of the night they retreated to their lines, leaving aU tbeir guns on the battery., which they had previously spiked. hTlSlOllY OF THE^\rAtfe 231 aud a considerable quantity of ammunition, working-tools, and their dead unburied. Their loss on this occasion was 32 killed< 44 wounded, and 2 missing-; that of the Americans, 1 1 killed and 23, wounded. GeneralJackson was reinforced by 2500 Kentucky militia on the 4th, and on the 6th the British were joined by general Lambert, at the head of the second part of the expedition. Serious preparations were now made for storming the Ameri- can works. On the night of the 7th, with infinite labour, the British succeeded in getting their boats into the Mississippi, by wid- ening and deepening the channel of the bayou, from which they had about two weeks before effected their disembarka- tion. Though these operations were not unperceived, it was not in Jackson's powder to impede them by a general attack: the nature of the troops under his command, mostly militia, rendering it too hazardous to attempt extensive offensive move- ments in an open country, against a numerous and well- dis- ciplined army. Although his forces, as to number, had bee« increased bj the arrival of the Kentucky division, his strength had received very little addition; a small portion only of that detachment being provided with arms. Compelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, Jackson, however, took every measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the object in view. Early in the morning of the 8th, the enemy, after throwing^ a heavy shower of bombs and Congreve rockets, advanced their columns an the right and left, to storm the entrenchments on the left bank of the Mississippi; throwing over a considerable force in his boats at the same tim^tto the right bank. The entrenchments on the right bank, \9me occupied by general Morgan, with the New-Orleans contingent, the Louisiana mi- litia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops: general Jackson, with the Tennessee and the remainder of the Ken- tucky niiiiiia, occupied the works on the left bank. The columns of the enemy advanced in good order towards Jackson's entrenchments, the men shouldering their muskets, and all carrying facines, and some with ladders. The batte- ries now opened an incessant fire on the British columns, which continued to advance in pretty good order, until, in a few minutes, the musquetryof the militia joining their fire with that of the artillery, began to make an impression on them, which soon threw them into confusion. At this time the noise of the continued rolling fire resmbled the concussion of tr^- Hiendous peals of thunder. For some time the British offi- 232 HISTORY OF THE WAR. cers succeeded in animating the courage of their troops, al- though every discharge from the batteries opened the columns, mowing down whole files, which were almost instantaneously replaced by new troops coming up close after the first; but these also shared the same fate, until at last, after 25 minutes continued firing, through which a few platoons advanced to the edge of the ditch, the columns broke and retreated in con- fusion. A second attack was received in the same manner. The British were forced to retreat, with an immense loss. But vain was the attempt of the officers to bring them up a third time. The soldiers were insensible to every thing but danger, and saw nothing but death, which had struck so many of their comrades. Near the commencement of the attack, general Packenham, the British commander-in-chief, lost his life at the head of his troops, and soon after, generals Keane and Gibbs were carried off the field dangerously wounded. A great many other offi- cers of rank fell, and the plain between the front line of the British and the American works, a distance of 400 yards, was literally covered with the enemy's dead and wounded. At this time general Jackson's loss was only seven killed and six wounded. The entire destruction of the British army had now been in- evitable, had not an unfortunate occurrance at this moment taken place on the right bank of the river. The troops which had landed there were hardy enough to advance against the works, and at the very moment when their entire discomfiture was looked for with confidence, the Kentucky militia inglori- ously fled, drawing afteiMhem, by their example, the remain- der of the forces. CoWmodore Patterson, who commanded the batteries, was of course forced to abandon them, after spik- ing his guns. This unfortunate rout totally changed the aspect of aifairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which he could an- noy Jackson without hazard, and by means of which he might have been enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of the success of the Americans on the other side of the river. It became, therefore, an object of the first consequence to dis- lodge him as soon as possible. For this object all the means which Jackson could with any safety use, were immediately put in preparation. But so great had been the loss of the Brit- ish on the left bank, that they were not able to spare a suffi- cient number of troops to hold the position which they had gained on th© right bank, without jeopardizing the safety of the HISTORY OF THE WAR, 233 whole. The troops were, therefore, withdrawn, and Jackson immediately regained the lost position. The spirit of atrocity and vengeance, which marked the conduct of the British during the campaign, was manifested £ven in this battle, although they suffered so signal a defeat.— After their final repulse on the left bank, numbers of the Ame- rican troops, prompted merely by sentiments of humanity, went, of their own accord, in front of their lines, to assist the wounded British, to give them drink, and to carry them (as :tbey did several of them on their backs) within the lines. — While they were tlms employed, they were actually fired up- on, and several killed. Yet the others, regardless of the dan- ger, persevered in their laudable purpose. This instance of baseness may have proceeded from individuals; nor would it in common cases be presumed, that the men v/ere ordered to fire by their officers: but if the fact be, as has been repeated- ly asserted without contradiction, that the watchword of the day was the significant words " beauty and booty^^ no charge would seem too atrocious for belief against the British com- manders. The total loss of the Americans in this action, on both sides of the river, was 13 killed, 39 wounded, and 19 missing. The British acknowledge a loss of 293 killed, 1267 wounded, and 484 missing. About 100 stand of arms of different descrip- tions were taken by the Americans. The British having retired to their old positfon, continued to occupy it till the night of the 18th, although constantly an- noyed by the American artillery on both sides of the river. At midnight they precipitately decamped, and returned to their boats, leaving behind, under medical Attendance, 80 wounded, including two officers. Fourteen pieces of heavy artillery, and a quantity of shot, were also abandoned, and a great deal of powder, which, however, was previously destroyed. But, such was the situation of the ground which the enemy abandoned, and of that through which he retired, protected by canals, re- doubts, entrenchments, and swamps on his right, and the river pn his left, that Jackson could not, without encountering a risk which true policy did not seem to require or to authorise, at- tempt to annoy him much on his retreat. He took only eight prisoners. Commodore Patterson, however, dispatched five boats and a gig, manned and armed with 50 men, under the command of Mr. Thomas Shields, purser on the New-Orleans station, to annoy the retreat of the British. On the night of the 19th, a boat lying at anchor was captured by surprise^ without resist- 2j>4 HISTORY OF THE WAR. ance, containing 40 dragoons and 14 seamen. The prisoners exceeding the detachment in numbers, Shields returned, and placing them in charge of the army, again set out in pursuit, in the hope of intercepting some of the enemy's boats about day-light, but without success. On the morning of the 21st, Shields once more pushed ofF among ihe transports of the enemy, and captured several, but unfortunately, owing to a strong contrary wind, he was not able to bring them off; some of them were therefore given up to the parolled prisoners, and the remainder destroyed. — Seventy-eight prisoners were brought in by this intrepid little band. Meantime the British fleet having proceeded up the Missis- sippi, bombarded Fort St. Philip for eight or nine days; but not being able to make any impression, they commenced their retreat about the same time that the army above embarked in their boats, viz. on the 18th of January. The bombarding ves- sels were stationed most of the time out of the reach of the guns of the fort. Major Overton, the commander, lost only two killed and seven wounded. We have never seen any official statement of the forces em- ployed in this expedition; but the most probable calculation makes the force landed below New Orleans, about 15,000 viz. 11,000 land-troops, and 4000 sailors and marines. So confi- dent were the British of success, that collectors of the customs and other civil officers attended the expedition, several of whom were among the prisoners taken by Shields, on the re- treat of the army. As soon as the British troops were embarked on board their shipping, the squadron made for Mobile bay, and completely invested Fort Bowyer both by land and water. A large force was landed on the 18th of February, who made regular ap- proaches, keeping up a constant firing, until the 11th, when, the approaches being within pistol-shot of the fort, colonel Lawrence was summoned to surrender. Resistance being un- availing against the overwhelming force of the enemy, articles of capitulation were agreed to, surrendering the fort to the British, the garrison, consisting of 366 men,,including officers, being considered prisoners of var. On the 10th, and 11th,, ge- neral Winchester, v '^o coromanded at Mobile, threw a detach- ment across the bav tor the relief of Fort Bowyer, but too late to effect any thing, except the capture of one of the British bar- ges, with 17 men. While these operations were carried on in the Gulph of Mexico, a considerable force was stationed off the coast of HISTORY OF THE WAR. 255 Soiuh Carolina and Georgia, menacing Charleston and Savan- nah. They took possession of Cumberland Island, as a mili- tary station, but nothing of consequence was effected on the main, excepting the capture of St. Mary's by a detachment under admiral Cockburn, who again returned to Cumberland island, after they effected their purpose by the destruction of the forts in tlws neighbourhood. Having thus reviewed every important military event, we shall now turn our attention to the ocean, where our cruizers continued to range with unabated vigour, and where, to use the querulous language of the British journalists, " if they tight, they are sure to conquer; if they fly, they are sure to escape.'* It will be recollected, that in October, 1812, the Constitu- tion and Hornet sailed from Boston on a cruize, which proved memorable by the destruction of the Java by the former, and that of the Peacock by the latter. The Essex, captain Porter, sailed from the Delaware about the same time, under orders to join commodore Bainbridge, who commanded the squadron. Porter left the capes on the 28th of October, and steered for the Cape de Verd islands, the first appointed rendezvous, crossing the track of the homeward-bound British Indiamen, and the outward-bound West Indiamen. Without meeting any enemy's vessels, he reached St. Jago, and put into port Praya for supplies. On the 29th of November he left the Cape de Verds for the Brazil coast. A few days after, a British packet was captured, with about §55,000 in specie, which be- ing taken out, the vessel was dispatched with a prize-master to the United States. The island of Fernando de Noronha, the second place of ren- dezvous, was reached on the 14th of December. Here Porter received a communication from the commodore, addressed to him under the fictitious title of sir James Lucas Yeo, stating that he would find him off Cape Frio, without entering the. port, therefore, the Essex stood to the southward. Near Rio de Janeiro a British schooner was captured, and after taking the prisoners out, it was discovered, that about an hour before their capture, they had parted with a small convoy of British vessels under charge of the Juniper, a three-masted schooner. All sail, therefore, was immediately made in pursuit, but every effort to reach them proved abortive. During the pursuit in- telligence was received, from different vessels, first of the blockade of the Bonne Citoycnne by the Constitution and Hor- net, and afterwards of the capture of an American vessel by the Montague 74, which captain Porter strongly suspected to be the Hornet, with the addition that the Montague had gone in pursuit of the frigate. 235 ' HISTORY OF THE WAH. This intelligence removed all expectations of the Essex be- ing enabled to join commodore Bainbridge; and it became absolutely necessary, therefore, for Porter to depart from the letter of his instructions. He accordingly determined to pur- sue that course which seemed best calculated to injure the enemy, and to enable the cruize to be prolonged. This could only be done by going into a friendly poit where sup- plies could be obtained, without the danger of blockade; and the most suitable place for that purpose seemed to be the port of Conception, on the coast of Chili. The season, it being now the end of January, was, to be sure, far advanced for doubling Cape Horn; the stock of provisions also was short, and the ship in other respects not well supplied with stores for so long a cruize. But there appeared to Porter no other choice left; except capture, starvation, or blockade. This course seemed to him the more justifiable, also, as it accorded with the views of the secretary of the navy, as well as those of the commodore. Before the declaration of war. Porter had laid before the secretaiy a plan of annoying the enemy's commerce in the Pacific, which had been approved of; and prior to this cruize, commodore Bainbridge having requested his opinion as to the best mode of annoying the enemy, Porter had laid the same plan before him. This had also been approved of by the commodore, who signified his intention to pursue it, provided supplies of provisions could be procured. Although there was considerable responsibility attached to this proceed- ing, and the undertaking was greater than had yet been en- gaged in by any single ship in similar pursuits, yet the season admitting of no delay. Porter, immediately on getting to sea, stood to the southward, and the crew were put on short allow- ance of provisions, in order to husband them for the long voy- age on which they were now embarked. Cape Horn was doubled about the middle of February, amidst tremendous storms; and the Essex surmounted all the dangers of hurricanes, fogs, and breakers, by the intrepidity of her commander, and the distinguished coolness and activity of her crew, to which the uncommon degree of health they enjoyed, from the judicious arrangements of captain Porter, not a little contributed. In the latitude of about 40° south, pleasant moderate weather succeeded to the incessant storms and severe cold experienced in the passage around the stormy cape, and on the 6th of March the Essex came to an anchor off an uninhabited island called Mocha, in the latitude of about 38° 15' S. about eight leagues distant from the coast of Chili. At Mocha, a considerable supply of fresh provisions was pro- HISrOllY OF THE WAK. 237 Cured by shooling the wild hpgs and horses which abound in that island. The tlesh of ihe latter was found to be the prefer- able food, that of the hogs being tough. ^ Porter again steering his course along ihe iron-bound coast of Chili, on the 15th of March put into the port of Valparaiso, where, contrary to his expectations, he was received with the utmost attention and hospitality. This arose from the change which had lately taken place here, the Chilians having assumed the government, though* without absolutely declaring them- selves independent of old Spain. The arrival of an Americaji frigate was considered a most happy event, and was celebrat- ed in their capital, St. Jago, by illumination and the ringing of bells. It was generally believed in Chili, that Porter had brought proposals for a'friendly alliance, and assurances of as- sistance in their struggle for independence; and this construe- ; tion he thought it politic rather to encourage, as it suited his; views of readily obtaining supplies. The Essex remained a week at Valparaiso. During that*! time two Spanish vessels had sailed for Lima, which rendered^ his speedy departure necessary, as they would certainly com- nvunicate the intelligence of his arrival to the enemy, and as it was Porter's intention to visit that coast next, for, from all.ac- counts, the coast of Peru, and from there to the Gallapagos islands, wasj.he favourite fishing-ground of the British whal- ers. Porter accordingly run down the coast of Chili and Pe- ru, and thence procaeded to the Gallapagos island. In this track he fell in with the Peruvian corsair, which he disarntfcd, and among the Gallapagos captured three British whalers. The Essex remained six mo^nths at the Gallapagos islands, during M^hich, however, one trip was' made toTumbez, on the coast of Peru, where a number of prisoners were la,nded on pa- role. During the cruize among those islands, the whole of the valuable British-whale vessels in the Pacific were cap- tured, excepting one which had been laid up at«Coquimbo for the want of guns, shef having been disarmed by the govern- -ment of Chili, in consequence of the active part she had taken in favour of the Peruvians, who adhered to Ferdinand. The value' of these prizes to the enemy was estimated at two mil- lions and a half of dollars. By tins cruire, too, the whole of the American ^hale-ships were rescued from certain capture, and protected in those seas until the proper season for their return to the United States. The captured vessels were twelve in number, carrying,, in the wliolc, 107 guns, and 302 men. — Two of the prizes were guven up to the prisoners, three were I -sent to Valparaiso, where they were laid up, and three were 238 Hisi-ORY OF THE WAR. sent to the United States. Lieutenant Downes convoyed the prizes sent to Valparaiso, in another prize, which had been fitted up as a cruizer, under the name of the Essex Junior. He rejoined captain Porter at the Gallapagos on the 30th of September, and brought letters from Valparaiso, containing information that a squadron under the command of commo- dore James Hillyar, consisting of the frigate Phoebe, of 36 guns, the Raccoon and Cherub sloops of war, and a store-ship of 20 guns, had sailed from England in pursuit of the Essex. That the Raccoon and Cherub had been seeking her for some time on the coast'of Brazil, and had then proceeded in quest of her to the Pacific. The Essex had now been nearly a year at sea, almost with- out intermission, and, as may be supposed, required consider- able repairs to put her in a proper state to meet the enemy- Captain Porter, therefore, adetermined to steer for the Wash- ington Islands for that purpose, and, on the 2d of October, the Essex, in company with the Essex Junior, Greenwich, Serin- gapatam. New Zealander, and the Sir Andrew Hammond, final- ly left the Gallapagos, or the Enchanted Isles, as some have called them, from the difficulty of clearing them, owing to the currents and baffling winds. These islands are described by captain Porter as being all of volcanic origin, and totally de- void of running streams. There are some few springs, but the water is quickly absorbed by the loose and thirsty lava and ..inders, of which these islands are principally composed. — When Porter visited them, their only inhabitants were tor- ;oises, guanas, lazards, aud snakes, but as he lost a number of goats, which were put on shore to graze, the probability is that they will soon be stocked by th*es« useful animals. The turtles are in such abundance as to furnish plentiful supplies of fresh provision for ships stopping there. The Marquesas, of which the Washington groupe forms a part, are situated between the latitude of 6° and 11° S. and 136° and 142° W. from London. Captain Porter, with his squadron, arived at the island called Nooaheevah by the na- • tives, on which Porter bestowed the name of Madison's Island, in honour of the American president. Here a fine bay was dis- covered, which appeared to offer every advantage that could be desired. A friendly intercourse was soon opened with the natives dwelling near the beach; but their operations on shore were threatened to be disturbed by the natives of a neighbour- iup* valley, who were at war with those among whom Porter had landed. On the capture of one of their strong holds, how- ever, by a party of sailors, who accompanied the friendly na- HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2S9 lives, the hostile Indians gladly accepted of the peace offercd- by Porter, on the condition of establishing a friendly commerce with him. The Indians now erected a little village for the reception of the articles taken out of the Essex, in order to her repairs, and the greatest harmony prevailed between the Americans and most of the tribes of the island, who brought plentiful supplies of provisions in exchange for pieces of iron, fish-hooks, and whale's teeth. But the conduct of the Typees, one of the most numerous and warlike tribes in the island, again threatened to put a spee- dy stop to the useful intercourse established with the natives. They continually insulted the friendly Indians, calling them cowards for submitting to the white men, to whom they appli- ed the most degrading epithets. In reply to a messenger whom Porter sent to their valley, to induce ihem to remain at peace, and to require an exchange of presents as a proof of their friendly disposition, they desired to know why they should seek his friendship, and why they should bring him hogs and fruit? If he was strong enough, they said, they knew he would come and take them: his not doing so was an acknowledgment of his weakness. Porter was extremely averse from engaging in a useless warfare with these people; but he conceived that necessity compelled him to take some steps to punish them, in order to secure the friendship of the other Indians, who made no secret of their belief that his backwardness to engage in war arose solely from cowardice. A distant day was there- fore appointed for an expedition against the Typees, and in the mean wltile Porter practised eyery means to inspire them with peaceable vievvs, by making them acquainted with the deadly effects of fire arms. But they felt too conscious of their num- bers, and of the natural strength of their valley, surrounded by mountains impenetrable, as they believed, to white men, to listen to peaceable overtures; and in this disposition they were confirmed by the event of the first attempt made to enter their country. Thirty-five men, with captain Porter at their head, landed in their valley, but from the nature of the country, it was found impossible to make any impression on them with this small force; and after penetrating through marshes and thickets, through which they had to fight their way, the pro- gress of the party was finally stopped by a strong wall, seven feet high, flanked by impenetrable thickets. The situation of the. party was at this moment peculiarly ha- zardous. The surrounding hills were covered by those Indi- ans, who at present professed friendship. Great numbers also had landed with them, but they had taken little or no part 240 HISTOJIY OF THB WAH. in the contest, and the appearance of a defeat, it was suppps- ed, would bring on an attack from the tribe that had been be- fore defeated, if not by the whole force of the island. Are- treat was therefore feigned, in crrder to draw the Indians from their fort, and in an instant they rushed upon the party with hideous yells. , The first and second which advanced were killed, and those who atlempted to carry them off were wound- ed; on Seeing which, they abandoned their dead, and precipi- tately retreated to their fort. Porter was now suffered to re- treat nearly unmolested. On arriving at the beach a messen- ger was again dispatched to offer peace, but they only answer- ed by a challenge ^o renew the contest. Porter now determined to embark, as the Indians had all de- scended the hiirs, and the defeat of the white men by the Ty- pees formed the universal topic of conversation. The pun- ishment of the hostile natives being deemed, however^ more important than ever, a large b9dy was next day marched to their valley across the mountains, and notwithstanding the ex- treme difRculties of the route, penetrated into their country, and completely drove them out of the valley. We regret to say, that the whole of their villages were burned and laid waste, as, though the practice is usual in Indian warfare, we cannot perceive that the same necessity existed that can be xirged for this measure in contests with the Indians in ouro\\ii territory. The Typees were now glad to accept of the same terms of pe»ce which they had before scoincd; and every tribe on the island courted the friendship of the whites. Previous to the Typee war, a fort had been erected in the valley, where Porter first landed, by permission of the inhabi- tants, and the flag of the United Stal*cs was hoisted, and the island formally taken possession of in the name of the Ameri- can government, by the title of Madison's Island, under a sa- lute of 17 guns. The object of the ceremony being explained to the inhabitants, they expressed much pleasures at the idea of being adopted Mei/ickees, as t.bey called the Americans. ' The Essex 'being now completely repaired, and provisions for four months laid in, she sailed for Valparaiso on the I2tb ofDecember, in company with the Essex Junior. The three prizes were secured under the guns of the fort, and left Tn charge of lieutei^nt Gamble of tl^e Marines, and 21 men, with^ orders to proceed to Valparaiso after a certain period. 'Shortly after captain Porter reached Valparaiso, commodore Hillyar arrived therein the Phoebe frigate, accompanied by the Cherub sloop of war. These ships, having been sent out HISTORY OF THE WAR. 24! expressly to seek for the Essex, wore in prime order and equipment, with picked crews, and hoisted flags bearing the motto " God and country, British sailors' best rights; traitors offend both.** This was in opposition to Porter's motto of " Free trade and sailors' rights," and the latter part of it sug- gested, doubtless, by error industriously cherished, that the American crews were chiefly composed of English seamen. — • In reply to this motto, Porter hoisted at his mizen, " God, our country, and liberty: tyrants offend them." On entering the harbour, the Phoebe fell foul of the Essex in such a manner as to lay her at the mercy of captain Porter; out of respect to the neutrality of the port, however, he did not take advantage of her exposed situation. This forbearance was afterwards ac- knowledged by commodore Hillyar, and he passed his word of honour to observe like conduct while they remained in port. They continued, therefore, whiJie in harbour and on shore, in the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind offices, that should characterize the private intercourse between civilized and generous enemies; and the crews of the respective ships often mingled together, and passed nautical jokes and pleasantries from one to the other. On getting their provisions on board, the Phoebe and Cherub went off the port, where they cruized for six weeks, rigorously blockading captain Porter. Their united force amounted to 81 guns and -500 men, in addition to which they took on board the crew of an English letter of marque lying in port. The force of the Essex consisted of but 46 guns, all of which, excepting six long twelves, were 32 pound carronades, only serviceable in close fighting. Her crew, having been much reduced by the manning of prizes, amounted to but 255 men. The Essex Junior being only intended as a store-ship, mounted ten 18 pound carronades, and ten short sixes, with a complement oi only 60 men. This vast superiority of force on the part of the eneniy pre- vented all chance of encounter, on any thing like equal terms,, unless by express covenant between the commanders. Captain Porter, therefore, endeavoured repeatedly to provoke a chal- lenge (the inferiority of his frigate to the Phoebe not justifying him in making the challenge himself), but without effect. He tried frequently also to bring the Phoebe into single action; but this commodore Hillyar warily avoided, and always kept his ships so close together as to frustrate captain Porter's attempts. Finding it impossible to bring the enemy to equal combat, and fearing the arrival of additional force, which he uuderstood. was on the way, Porter determined to put to sea the fii*st op- 242 HISTORY OV THE WAli, portuiiity that should present. A rendezvous was accordingiy opened for the Essex Junior, and having ascertained by re- peated trials that the Essex was a superior sailer to either oi the blockading ships, it was agreed that she should let the enemy chase her off, thereby giving the Essex Junior an op- portunity of escaping. On the next day, the 28th of March, 1814, the wind caitfe on to blow fresh from the southward, and the Essex parted her larboard cable, and dragged her starboard anchor directly out'to sea. Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the ship; but perceiving that the enemy was close in with the- point form- ing the west side of the bay> and that there was a possibility of passing to windward, and escaping to sea by superior sail- ing, captain Porter resolved to hazard the attempt. He ac- cordingly took in his top gallant sails, and braced up for the purpose, but, most unfortunately, on rounding the point, a heavy squall strucJ!? the ship, and carried a^vay her main top-mast, precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were drowned^. Both ships now gave chase, and the crippled state of his ship left Porter no alternative but to endeavour to regain the port. Finding it impossible to get back to the' con>mon anchorage, he ran close into a small bay, about three quarters of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east of the harbour, and let go his anchor within pistol shot of the shore. Suppos- ing the enemy would, as formerly, respect the neutrality of the place, he cojnsidered himself secure^ aad thought only of re- pairing the damages he had sustained. The wary and m.enac- ing" approach of the hostile ships,' however, displaying their motto flags, and having jacks at ail their masts' heads, soon showed him the real danger of his situation. With all possi- ble dispatch, therefore, he got his ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get- a spring on hh cable, bu't had not succeed- ed, when, at 54 minutes past 3 P. JSl. the enemy commenced an attack. i\t first the Phoebe placed herself under his stern, and the Cherub on his starboard bow; but the latter soon finding herself exposed to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stern also, where both ships kept up a severe and raking fire. Porter succeeded three different times in getting springs on his ca- bles, for the purpose of bringing his broadside to bear on the enemy, but they were as often shot away by the excessive firo to which he was exposed. He was obliged, therefore, to rely for defence against this tremendous attack merely on three long twe'^ve-pounders, which he had run out of the stern-ports; »?i«i whic4a were' worked "Vfith such bravery and skill, as in half MI3TOKY Olf- THE WAR *4.^. ail hour to do great injury to both the enemy's ships, and in- duce them to hiuil oft' and repair damages. It was evidently the intention of commodore iiiilyar to risk nothbig from the during courage of his antagonist, but to take the Essex at a^ eheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate and wary; he saw his antagonist completely at his mercy, and pri'epared to cut him up in the safest and surest manner. In the mean time the situation of the Essex was galling and pro- v'>king in the extreme; crip-pled and shattered, v^ith many killed and wounded, she lay awaiting the convenic: ce of tfie enemy, to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope of escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of being disheartened, were aroused to desperation, and by hoist- ing ensigns in their rigging, and jacks in different parts of the ship, evinced their defiance and determination to hold out to the last. The enemy having repaired his dtTmages, now placed hito- self with both his shifi§, on the starboard quarter of the Es- sex, out of reach of her carronades, and where her stern-guns could not be brought to bear. Here he kept up a most de- structive fire, which it was not in Porter's power to return; the latter, therefore, saw no hope of injuring him without get- ting under way and becoming the assailant. From the man- gled state of his rigging, he could set no other than the flying jib; this he caused to be hoisted, cut his cable, and run down on both ships, with an intention of laying the Phoebe on board. For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy, and the firing on "both sides was tremendous. The decks of the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled with wounded; she had been seveial times on fire, and was in fact a perfect wreck; still a feeble hope sprung up that she might be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being compelled to haul off by her crippled state; she did not return to close ac- lion again, but kept i^ a distant firing with her long guns." The disabled state of the Essex, however, did not permit her to take advantage of this circumstance; for want of sail she was unable to keep at close quarters with the Phoebe, who, edging off chose the distance which best suited her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire, which made dreadful havoc among tfie crew of the E^sex. Many of her guns were reur dercd useless, and many had their whole crews destroyed: they were manned from those that were disabled, and one^unin particular v/as three times manned: fifteen men were slain at it in the course of the action, though the captain of it escaped with only a slight wound. Captain Porter now gave up ail 244 IIISTOAY OF THE WAR. hopes of closing with the enemy, but finding the wind favour- able, determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and destroy her. He had approached within musket shot of the shore, and had every prospect of succeeding, when, in an in- stant, the wind shifted from the land, and drove her down upon the Phoebe, exposing her again to a dreadful raking fire. The ship was now totally unmanageable; yet as her head was to- ward the enemy, and he to leeward, captain Porter again per- ceived a faint hope of boarding.* At this moment lieutenant Downes of the Essex Junior came on board to receive orders, expecting that captain Porter would soon be a prisoner. His sei'vices could be of no avail in the deplorable state of the Es- sex, and finding from the enemy's putting his helm up, that the last attempt at boarding would not sitcceed, Downes was directed to return to his own ship, to be prepared for defend- ing and destroying her in case of attack. He took with him several of the wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on board to make room for them. The Cherub kept up a hot fire on him during his return. The slaughter on board the Essex now became horrible, the enemy continuing to rake her, while she was unable to bring a gun to bear in return. Still her commander, with an obstinacy that bordered on desperation, persisted in the une- qual and almost hopeless conflict. Every expedient thafa fer- tile and inventive mind could suggest was resorted to, in the forlorn hope that they might yet be enabled by some lucky chance to escape from the grasp of the foe. A halser was bent to the sheet-anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows, to bring the ship's head round. This succeeded; the broadside of the Essex was again brought to bear; and as the enemy was much crippled, and unable to hold his own, Porter thought she might drift out of gun-shot before she discovered that he had anchored. The halser, however, unfortunately parted, and with it failed the last lingering hope of the Essex. The ship had taken fire several times during the action, but at this moment her situation was awful. She was on fire both forward and aft; the flames were bursting up each hatchv/ay; a large quantity of powder below exploded, and word was given that the fire was near the magazine. Thus surrounded by horrors, .without any chance of saving the ship, Porter turned his at- tention to rescuing as many of his brave companions as 'possi- ble. Finding his distance from the shore did not exceed three quarters of a mile, he hoped many would be able to save-them- selves should the ship blow up. His boats had been cut to pieces by the enemy's shot, but he advised such as.could swim UlLSTpKY OF THE WAR. *^4^ !Lo jump overboard aiul make for shore. Some reached it, some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the attempt; but most of this loyal and gallant crew preferred sharing the fate of their ship and their commander. Those who remrdned on board now endeavoured to extin*- guish tho, flames, and having succeeded went again to the giins, and kept up a firing for a few minutes; but the crew had by this time become so weakened, that all further resistance was in vain. Captain Porter summoned a consultation of the officers of divisions,'but was surprised to find only acting lieu- tenant Stephen Decatur M'Knight remaining; of the others, some had been killed, others knocked overboard, and others <;arried below disabled by severe wounds. The accounts from every part of the sfiip were deplorable in the extreme; re- presenting her in the most shattered and crippled condition, in imminent danger of sinking, and so crowded with the wound- ed,' that even the birth-deck could contain no more, and many were killed while under the surgeon's hands. In the meaa while the enemy, in consequence of the smoothness of the wa- ter and his secure distance, was enabled to keep up a delibe* rale and constant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty, as if -firing at a target, ^nd hitting the hull at every shot. At length, •utterly despairing of saving the ship, captain P^^rter was com^ pelletf, at 20 minute^ past 6 P. M. to give the painful order to strike the colours. It is probable that the enemy did not perceive that the ship had surrendered, for he continued firingj -several men were killed and wounded in different parts of ih ship, and captain Porter, thinking he intended to show no quarter, was about to rehoist his flag and to fight until he sunk, when the enemy desisted his attack ten minutes after the surrender. The loss on board the Essex was 58 killed, 39 wounded se- verely, 27 slightly, and 31 missing. The loss on board the British vessels was 5 killed and 10 wounded. . Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were 'spectators of the battle, covering the neighbouring heights: for it was fought so near the shore, that some of the shot even struck among the citizens, who, in the eagerness of their curiosity, had ventured down upon the beach. Touched by the forlorn situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration at the un- flagging; spirit and persevering bravery of her commander and crew, a generous anxiety rdin throughout the multitude for their feite: bursts of delight arose, when, by any vicissitude of battle, or prompt expedient, a chance seemed to turn up in their favour; and the eager spectators were seen to wring their 2'46 HISTORY OF THE WAR. hands, and uttered groans of sympathy, when the transieiit Hope was defeated, and the gallant little frigate once more be^ - came an unresisting object of deliberate slaughter. ^ Though, from the distance and positions which the enetn^ chose, this battle was chiefly fought on Porter's part by sljf twelve-pounders only, yet great damage was don© to the as- sailing ships. Their masts and yards were badly crippled^ their hulls much cut up; the Phoebe, especially, received 18 twelve pound shot below her water line, some three feet un*- der water. It w^s with some difficulty that the Phoebe and the Essex could be kept afloat until they anchored the next morning in the port of Valparaiso. Captain/ Porter and his crew were parqjied, and permitted to return to the United States in the Essex Junior, her armament being previously taken out. On arriving off the port of New York, they were overhauled by the Saturn razee, the authori- ty of commodore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, and the Essex Junior detainpd. Captain Porter then told the boarding-officer that he gave up his parole, and considered himself a prisoner of war, and as such should use all means of escape. In consequence of this threat, the Essex Junior was ordered to remain all night under the lee of the Saturn, but the next morning captain Porter put off in his boat, though thirty miles from shore^ and, notwithstanding he was pursued by the Saturn, effected his escape, and landed safely on Long Island. The Essex Junior was, However, released, and arrived shortly after at New York. The small party left with lieutenant Gamble in charge of the prizes at Madison's island, met with a series of misfor- tunes, which eventuated in the loss of all the vessels, and the breaking up of the establishment. Hardly had the Essex got clear of the islands, before a hostile disposition was discovered in the natives; and in a few days they became so insolent, that Gamble conceived it to be absolutely necessary to land his men to recover by force of arms the articles they had stolen from his encampment, and to deter them from putting their threats into execution. Fortunately this was accomplished without the firing of a musket, and a perfect amity was kept up for se- veral months afterwards. On the 9th of May, while Gamble was preparing to depart for Valparaiso, an attack was made on his ship by the natives. His numbers had been previously reduced by desertion, antl by a mutiny, which ended in the escape of the mutineers in one of the prizes. After suffering a severe loss in the scuffie with 1.he„ native^ a breeze fortunately sprung up, which enabled the flfSTORY OF THE WAll. 2ij party to leave the bay. It being now reduced to eight soul^, not more than three of whom were effective, it was impracti- cable to reach Valparaiso, which lay to windward. Gamble therefore steered for the Sandwich islands, where he was cap- tured by the Cherub sloop of war. The cruize of the Essex in the Pacific ocean will ever form one of the most memorable events in the history of our coun- try; and posterity will hesitate whether most to admire the wisdom which devised, or the energy which carried it into execution. With a single ship, ill appointed for such a cruize, Porter boldly braved the terrors of the tempestuous cape, and by his successful intrepidity cut off the whole of the valuable commerce of the enemy in those waters, where Great Bri- tain never dreamt that an American frigate would dare to make her appearance. For twelve months Porter lorded it over the Pacific, at the head of a little squadron of his own formation, without any expense to his country, his ships being fitted out and furnishd with provisions and stores solely from the fruits of his enterprise. Numerous ships were sent to the Pacific in pursuit of him, others were ordered to cruize in the China seas, off New Zealand, Timor, and New Holland, and a frigate sent to the river La Plata. These vessels, it is said, were ordered to effect his destruction without respect to the neutrality of any port in which he might have taken shelter, an order which was faithfully executed by commodore Hillyar, notwithstand- ing the honourable example set him by captain Porter. The gallant defence of the Essex adds another laurel to the wreath which encircles our seamen, and, as was officially acknowledg- ed by commodore Hillyar, " did honour to her brave defenders, and most fully evinced the courage of captain Porter, and those under his command." Meanwhile the remainder of our little navy continued to make every sea the theatre of their exploits. No more fri- gates, it is true were added to the list of our naval triumphs, for, taught by sad experience, strict orders were issued by the British admiralty to their frigates, to avoid encounters with those of the United States, and indeed they were seldom allow- ed to put to sea alone. Six sloops of war, however, were cap- tured; the Epervier by the Peacock, the Reindeer and Avon by the Wasp, the Penguin by the Hornet, and the Cyane and Levant by the Constitution frigate. The loss of the American navy at sea was two sloops of war and the President frigate, each of them by an overwhelming force. The blockade of the American coast, which nominally ex- tended from Rhode Island to the Mississippi, was on the 25th 248 HISTORY OF TliEWAK. of April, 1814, extended to'^every port of the United States. — But neither our public nor^ur private cruizers were to be de- terred from pi't)ceeding to sea by those paper blockades. An astonishing havoc was committed upon the English commerce, not only in the high seas, but on ijie coast of Great Britain^ in her channels, and even in the very mouth« of iier harbours. Such was the uneasiness and alarm created, by the numerous captures by the Americans, that for a while insurance could not be effected at all to distant ports, and even from Eng- land to Ireland, a few hours sail, a premium of Iwe guineas per cent, was demanded. " The admiralty were besieged with memorials from the mer- cantile cities, and from the insu-ance officers: but they acknow- ledged the remedy to be beyond^ their power. In answer to numerous remonstrances on this subject, ii was officially stated by Mr. Croker, that an ample force had been under the orders of the admirals on the different stations, ^nd that during the time when the American depredations were stated to have taken place in St. George's channel, not fewer then three fri- gates and fourteen sloops of war were actually at sea for its protection. The achievments of the American privateprs have in many instances rivalled Uios^ of our public vessels; and we regret that our limits have hitherto prevented us from paying them the attention they/l^scrve. It would be improper, however, to pass ovorr the gallant defence of the General Armstrong, by captain Reid and his brave crew, in the port of Fayal. This ac- tion forms bflt one.out of the many instances in which the Bri- tish commanders have set at nought the rights of neutrality, by the capture of American vessels in friendly ports; but in none has it been effected at such an expense of blood to the violators. On the the 26th of September, about dusk, while the Gener- al Armstrong lay at anchor in Fayal harbour, the British brig Carnfrtion hove in sight within gun-shot, and no sooner did she understand the character of the privateer, then she hauled close in and let go her anchor within pistol shot of her. At the fiame time the Piantagenet, 74, and the frigate Rota hove in sight, and after an interchange of signals between them and the Carnation, the latter threw out all her boats, and appeared to be making unusual exertion. The moon being near its full enabled ckptain Reid to observe these movements, which de- termined him to haul in nearer to the^shore. Accordingly after rlciiring for action, he got untler way, and began to sweep in. The moment this was perceived by the Carnation, she cut her HISTORl OF THE WAR. 249 c^ble, made sail, and dispatched four boats in pursuit, well . manned and armed. On approachint^ the Armstrong, the boats were repeatedly hailed by captain Reid, but they made no an- swer, and only pulled with the greater speed. A fire was therefore opened upon them, which was immediately return- ed; but the boats soon cried for quarter, and liauled off. They then fled to their ships, and prepared for a second and more formidable attack: the privateer, in the mean time, was an- chored within half cable's length of the shore, and within half pistol shot of the castle. At 9 o'clock the Carnation was observed towing in a fleet o'f boats from the 74 and frigate. They soon after left l>cr, and took their station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef of rocks, within about musket shot of the General Armstrong;, where they continued to manoeuvre for some time, the Carna- tion keeping under way to act with the boats, in case the pri- vateer should attempt to escape. At length, about midnight, the boats were observed in motion, coming on in one direct line, in close order, to the number of 12 or 14, manned; as was afterwards learnt, by 400 men. A severe conflict ensued, which lasted near forty-minutes, and terminated in the total defeat and partial destruction of the boats, with an immense slaughter on the part of the British. During these attacks the shores were liiicd with inhabitants, who, from the brightness of the moon, had a favourable viev/ of the scene. The governor, with most of the first people of the place, stood by, a^pd saw the whole aff'air. After the se- cond attack a note was sent from the governor to captain Lloyd, of the Plantagenet, who commanded the British squadron, beg- ging him to desist from further hostilities; but Lloyd answer- ed, that he was now determined to have the privateer, at the risk of knocking down the whole town; and that if tiie gover- nor suff'ered the Americans to injure the privateerin any man- ner, he should consider the place an enemy's port, and treat it" accordingly. Information to this effect being conveyed to cap- tain Reid by the American consul, the wounded and de.irl were carried on shore, and the crew ordered to save their effects as fast as possible. About day -light the Carnation stood close in to the Arm- strong, and commenced a heavy fire; but after several brotul- sides, she hauled off", having received a shot in her hull, her rigging much cut, and her fore-top-mast wounded. She soon after came in again, however, and anchored close to the pri- vateer, when captain Reid ordered his crew to scuttle aijd abandon the vessel, to prevent the enemy from getting her oH', 250 HISTORY OF IHE WAR. She was soon afterwards boarded by the enemy's boats, and set fire to. The loss of the Americans in tliis affair was only two killed and seven wounded; the British had 120 killed and 130 wound- ed. Several houses in the town were destroyed by the ene- my's shot, and some of the inhabitants wounded. Two Brit- ish sloops of war arrived a few days after, which were immedi- ately taken into requisition to carry the wounded to England. ^ In this situation stood affairs when a treaty of peace was agreed upon by the commissioners of the two nations at Ghent. After a tedious procrastination on the part of the British gov- ernment, the negociation was commenced by the British com- missioners bringing forward demands which could only have been acceded to by a degraded and conquered people, one of which was declared to be a si?ie qua nofij and that, after find- ing that the only effect produced by these demands was the union of the whole American people to resist them, they were' all withdrawn, and a treaty agreed on, simply placing the po- ihical rights and territories of the two nations on the same footing as previous to the war. It was signed at Ghent on the -4th of Decem.ber, and soon after ratified by the prince re- .^;cnt. It received its final ratification by the president on the i'aih of February, 1815. This treaty was generally satisfactory to the American peo- ?.tle, for, though it left the great questions of impressment and illegal blockades unsettled, it was believed, that the respect \vhich the victories of the navy had inspired towards the Ame- rican Hag, would prevent a repetition of those outrages which preceded the war. The mighty changes which had taken place in Europe were believed to have the same tendency, by removing many of the pretexts on which these outrages weie founded. But although the peace with America was also a general subject of joy in Great Britain, much dissatisfaction was ex- cited on the publication ot the terms. The treaty formed, in- deed, a deplorable contrast with the high-sounding threats and boasts of the ministry but a few months before; and after the demands which had been brought forward, it was conceived ihat it consum.mated the humiliation of the British ministry.* * The public stocks exfiericnced a considerable defiression on Ihe fiublication of the treaty^ it being conceived^ that nothing but the firobability of a new 7var in Eurofie could have occa- Aioned the disgraceful compromisc-i as the treaty ii^as called by the government papers. HISTOUY OF Tlii: V.'AR. 251 On ail address beiiig moved in the house of v^ommons congra- luh-itinij the piince rey;ein on the re-establishment of peace, an amendment was moved, which, though it was not carried, shows in a striking manner che sentiments of a great part of the na- tion. Tiie'amcndment proposed that the following should be substituted for the original address. " To assure his royal highness that we contemplate with great satisfaction the restoration of a state of peace and amity between his majesty and the United States of North America; but we should deem ourselves highly deficient in the discharge of our duty towards his majesty and his people, were we not to express to his royal highness our deepest regret, that a mea- sure so necessary to the welfare and prosperity of his majes- ty's dominions, was not sooner accomplished: that in review- ing the terms of the treaty which his royal highness has been graciously pleased to lay before us, we are at a loss to discover what were the causes which so long retarded its conclusion; that, in our ophiion, the honour of his majesty's crown, and the interest of his people, both required that as soon as the peace of Europe had been established by the treaty signed at Paris, on the 8th day of May, in the last year, the speediest and most eftectual measures should have been adopted for the ne- gociationofa treaty of peace with the United States of North America; that the complete and entire cessation of hostilities in Europe bad removed or suspended the operation of the causes, which had occasioned or accompanied the late war be- tween his majesty and the United States;)that the elevated and commanding station which the united kingdom then held amongst the nations of the w^orld would have rendered the mani- festation of a sincere wish for the restoration of the blessings of peace wdth the United States highly honourable to his ma- jesty's counsels; and would have afforded the government and people of America the most unequivocal proofs of the gene- losity and magnanimity of the British nation; of a shicere de- sire to bury in lasting oblivioii the recollection of that hostili- ty which then unhappily subsisted, and of its anxious wish for the re-establishment of peace upon terms honourable and ad- vantageous to both countries, and likely to insure its own per- manency by the justice and liberality of its conditions; that we are the more deeply afflicted by the long and (as we deem it) unnecessary delay in the conclusion of peace, when we rellect upon the great and incomparable injury his majesty and his people have sustained, by the unnecessary and unprofitable w^aste of treasure, by tiie loss of so many distinguished and licroic officers, and of such numbers of brave, loyal, and expe- 25i HISTORY OF THE WAR. lienccd troops; and we most deeply lament that these calami- ties should be aggravated by mortifying reflections, that thr^ fame of the British arms may appear to be diminished by t. failure of the latest military enterprizes of the war. That affords us, however, consolation to iind, that peace is at lens i-e-established; and to assure his royal highness, that it is t . earnest wish and desire of this house to cultivate and maintu, the most cordial and intimate union with the government ai people of the -United States. " That we rely upon his royal highness' wisdom and go ness to cberish and preserve the most friendly relations bv, tween them and his majesty's subjects; and we confidently trust, that a corresponding disposition in the government and the people of the United States, will enable his royal highn&ss to continue unimpaired, and undisturbed, the harmony now happily restored between them; and that the two freest natio in the world may exhibit to mankind the grateful spectacle mutual confidence and lasting peace." The experience of the war has taught us many useful 1 sons, which it is to be hoped our statesmen will not suffer . pass without profit. We have learnt that a large and eflicic^ revenue, not vulnerable from abroad, is esseiitial to its succes ful conduct; and that a dependence on loans for the extra ex penses of war is fatal and ruinous. We have learnt that a navy is not only the best and cheapest, but the only effectual defence against the invasion of a coast so extensive as that of the United States; th^t a navy is pe-j culiarly suited to the genius of our country; and, that, as it cannot possibly endanger our republican institutions, its si^',- ought to keep pace with our means of supporting it. We have also seen the advantages and defects of our miK system; and the necessity that exists for more clearly detc mining the powers of the general government on this and other important questions. It is to be hoped that the presc period of unexampled harmony will not be suffered to pr unimproved.* * By the articles of confederation^ the states apjiointed : regimental officers^ the general government the field ancl ga. rat officers. Is there amj aolid objections to this plan?- H 122 en mi .4^ ^°-nj.. *^ * <1 u> ^^ . "h ^ t^ . ^^^ ^^